IP addresses are the business cards of our teams , where they are identified by a set of numbers . Knowing its function can help us know how to configure VPNs, SSH accesses or remote accesses.
IPs grow every day and for now IPv6 is known as the most current version , however due to Internet changes, when necessary, another more advanced version may emerge. The IPv4 version despite being still the standard version of many devices, is being changed to the new version .
In this post you will find all the information you need to know the functions of the IP protocols, where we will also explain the processes or cycles that it must comply with .
Index:
What is the IP protocol and what are the addresses derived from this one?
The IP protocol (acronym for its acronym in English Internet Protocol), is the main basis of Internet browsing. Its function is to send data from a source to a destination, which are identified with what is known as an IP address.
At the time the data is being transmitted, the datagrams can be split or divided, which are then rejoined when they reach their destination. Internet protocols meet the following characteristics:
- It is a non-connection oriented protocol .
- Fragment packets whenever needed.
- You can make addresses to logical addresses as is the 32-bit IP.
- The packets sent can remain alive on the network for a finite period .
- Complies with efficiency and effectiveness , in the distribution of packages.
- You can distribute packages up to a maximum size of 65635 bytes .
Most of the distribution services are provided by the IP protocols , which allows communication between two points for sending or receiving computer packages.
When we talk about the “no connection ” orientation, we mean that the information packets that are going to be broadcast to the network, are treated independently , allowing that they travel along different paths until they reach the destination point.
What is a datagram?
A datagram is that unit that contains a quantity of information exchanged by IP. The structure of the datagrams is mainly by a header and a data area . The Internet protocol does not fully specify the content of the data area, so it can be used arbitrarily by the transport protocol in the next layer.
How many types of IP addresses exist and how is one different? of the other?
As we know, IP addresses are very important, but these are classified into private IPs and public IPs, which in turn public can be divided into fixed or dynamic:
Private IP
This type of IP network is widely used at the enterprise level, as it can identify each of the devices that are connected to them. For example, it is what we create when we connect our smartphone, printer and laptop to the same wireless network of our home (Wifi).
Public IP
These are the ones that we use in common , since they are visible to any of our devices, and are usually issued by a router or modem.
This address is subdivided into fixed or dynamic, whose functions are as follows:
Fixed
This is the IP address that is assigned to the devices which will never be changed (unless an expert staff does), we can witness them in any of the two addresses IP (private or public).
Fixed IPs offer a higher speed of downloading data, but despite this and its great stability it can present some inconveniences, because this type of IP are very vulnerable to cyber attacks.
This is because because they are a static address, hackers have the time they want to send viruses and infect the network , the main flaw of this IP is its vulnerability. You also have to know that your configuration must be manual, so we must always pay an additional fee to obtain it .
Dynamics
This address, unlike the fixed one always is constantly changing , this is done every time the device establishes an Internet connection. It is used when Internet providers have a larger number of clients than an IP address, whose hypothesis is that all users are unlikely to connect at the same time.
While the fixed network has a security deficit, it has a higher level of protection, in addition to the configuration is done automatically , although the The probability that this connection is interrupted is greater than the fixed one.
How are private IP addresses classified and how they differ ?
It can be subdivided into three parts, which these are composed of a set of numbers that are destined exclusively for private IP addresses, which are named as follows:
Class A
(10.0.0.0 to 10.255.255.255), Its main use is to maintain communication in large networks, which are mostly hired by transnational companies.
Class B
(172.16.0.0 to 172.31.255.255), Generally used for medium-sized companies whose network should not be so extensive, are also used by schools or universities.
Class C
(192.168.0.0 to 192.168.255.255), are simply those home networks where their working range is very short , whose greatest use are households.
What are the versions of the Internet protocol we know and in what is different?
At this point we should know that an IP address is the identity of our team through a network. But we should also know that there are two official versions of Internet protocols.
These versions are explained below:
IPv4
The most common version is IPv4 (Internet Protocol version 4) , whose main feature is to be a offline protocol , which we can observe in networks that use the packet switching.
All IPv4 addresses are 32 bits , which consists of four octets (8-bit numbers) in a decimal notation, which are always separated by points, so your maximum number for addresses is 4.3 billion . Most of the IPs in this version are built as follows: 192.168.0.25
It is predicted that this protocol will be forgotten because every day is being more limited, because it requires different add-ons such as ICMP and ARP so that it can work correctly.
IPv6
The new generation of the IP protocol is version 6 (IPv6) , it was developed a few years ago, so it is considered to offer a better connection and data transmission, this is due what is the evolution or the enhanced version of IPv4 .
These addresses are based on 128 Bits and consist of 8 sections with 16 bits , which are separated between two points (:). IPv6 is the long-term solution and the future of the Internet, this version grows as the network grows.
IP version 6 has the following advantages:
- IPv6 does not need to use NAT (Network Address Translation).
- You can eliminate any possibility of private address collisions .
- Offers a greater number of IP addresses , unlike IPv4 that only supports up to a maximum of 2 ^ 32 in the address scope, while version 6 can support up to 2 ^ 128.
- If we talk about the header format, this is much simpler, which allows a much simpler routing than IPv4 with greater packet efficiency.
- The use of DHCP is avoided
- It offers a greater security network layer (IPsec)
- We can find an automatic address configuration, so that it facilitates the administration of the network.
We can noticeably improvements in the quality of services (QoS).
Differences from version 4 vs version 6.
- Version 4 offers a length of 32 bits in length , while version 6 offers 128 bits.
- The lifetime of the IPv4 protocol is It is governed by DHCP, while the IPv6 has two lifetime, the valid and the preferred .
- IPv4 have address masks.
- The IPv6 It has a faster data transfer rate than IPv4.
How does IP work? What layer of the network protocol?
The function of IP is to achieve effective communication between two points . Such a process needs a parent point, which can be the router or modem, then the medium that is the network that will be used to establish communication and the destination point.
In more detail the network protocols have a 4-layer architecture, which are:
- The physical or network link layer : This layer specifies all the characteristics of the hardware used for the network and its routed data.
- The Internet or IP layer: This layer also known as TCP / IP is responsible for providing the data or datagram package.
- The transport layer or TCP: Its only function is to ensure that packets reach their destination without errors and in sequence.
- The application layer: In this last layer, the applications or actions that were ordered.
Steps to know the private IP address of your Windows computer, Linux or MacOS
Now that you know what an IP address is, it’s time to learn how to search and find your computer’s in case you need it for any other process. Here we show you how to do it in the main operating systems:
In Windows
In order to know what is the IP from a Windows computer, we just have to follow the steps below:
- We go to the network icon.
- We look for the network which we are connected to.
- We right click on the network and from the drop-down list that appears we click on representedEstado•.
- We will see a table with different options and select in eachDetails †.
- Finally click on “close” when we know what the IP of our network is.
On MacOS
In order to know what the IP address of our network is through a MacOS, we only use the “OS X Terminal”, following the following commands:
- Already in the “OS X terminal” we enter the IFCONFIG.
- command when we execute this command we are will show all the information about the network adapters that we have on our Mac (virtual and physical), there we can also see the IP address of our Network .
On Linux
In Linux it will also be necessary to use the “Terminal” and, like the previous cases, it is very simple.
Being in the “Linux Terminal” enter the command “ifconfig interface [address [parameters]]” (without the quotes). With a single step we can know all the information of our network, although if we only use the “IFCONFIG” command it will give us the following results:
- eth0 Link encap 10Mps
- Ethernet HWaddr 00: 00: c0: 90: b3: 42 inet addr 192.168.1.2
- Bcast 192.168.1.255 Mask 255.255.255.0 UP BROADCAST RUNNING MTU 1500 Metric 0 RX packets 3136 errors
- 217 dropped 7 overrun 26 TX packets 1752 errors 25 dropped 0 overrun 0
As the information we are looking for is the IP of our network, we only look for the line where “inet addr” appears and the address that appears immediately is the IP of the network we are connected .