What is Network or IP Address

What is an IP Address?

Internet protocol address (IP address)

-is a numerical label assigned to each device connected to a computer network that uses the Internet Protocol for communication. An IP address serves two principal functions: host or network interface identification and location addressing.

Internet protocol Versions

IPv4 – Internet Protocol Version 4

-IPv4 addresses are canonically represented in dotted - decimal notation, which consists of four decimal numbers, each ranging from 0 to 255, separated by dots, e.g., 172.16.254.1. Each part represents a group of 8 bits (octet) of the address.

       

IPv6 - Internet Protocol Version 6 

IP Address Classes

With an IPv4 IP address, there are five classes of available IP ranges: Class A, Class B, Class C, Class D and Class E, while only A, B, and C are commonly used. Each class allows for a range of valid IP addresses, shown in the following table.Class D - is for multicastClass E - reserved for future or experimental purposes Class A - 1 to 126Class B - 128 to 191Class C - 192 to 223 Class D - 224 to 239 Class E - 240 to 255127 - loopback function of a network

Creating Ip Address

    1.  Right click My Network Places
     2.  Click Properties  
     3.  Right click Local Area Connection  
     4.  Click Properties
     5.  Click TCP/IP  
     6.Click Properties
     Obtain an IP address automatically                         
     Use the following IP address:  IP Address  Subnet Mask
     7.  Click OK

Source:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IP_address