What Is the Internet Protocol
The Internet Protocol (IP) serves as a framework of guidelines for the routing and addressing of data packets, enabling them to traverse networks and reach their intended destinations. When data is transmitted over the Internet, it is segmented into smaller units known as packets. Each packet is tagged with IP information, which assists routers in directing these packets to their correct endpoints. Every device or domain connected to the Internet is assigned a unique IP address; thus, when packets are routed according to their attached IP addresses, they successfully arrive at their designated locations.
Once the packets reach their destination, they are processed according to the transport protocol used alongside IP. The most widely used transport protocols are TCP and UDP.
History of Internet Protocol
In 1974, the development of the protocol began with Vint Cerf and Bob Kahn leading the initiative. They designed it alongside TCP, which together became known as the TCP/IP protocols (Transmission Control Protocol and Internet Protocol). Each significant version of the Internet Protocol was assigned a version number, such as IPv4, which stood for Version 4 of the protocol. The Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) officially declared this protocol in RFC 791 in September 1981. After IPv4, IPv6 (Version 6) was introduced by the IETF in 1998, initially in a trial phase. IPv6 was created to replace IPv4, with the primary difference being that IPv4 uses 32-bit addresses, while IPv6 expands this to 128 bits.
Types of IP addresses
IP addresses are classified into various categories, and within each category, there are different types.
Consumer IP Addresses:
Both individuals and businesses with an internet service plan are assigned two types of IP addresses: a private IP address and a public IP address. The difference between public and private lies in their network function—private IP addresses are used within a local network, while public IP addresses are used outside of it.
Private IP Addresses:
Every device connected to your local internet network has its own private IP address. This includes not only computers, smartphones, and tablets but also Bluetooth-enabled devices like speakers, printers, and smart TVs. As the Internet of Things (IoT) grows, the number of private IP addresses in your home is likely increasing. Routers need a way to distinguish these devices from each other, and many of these devices also need to communicate. To manage this, your router assigns unique private IP addresses to each device, identifying them individually on the network.
Public IP Addresses:
A public IP address represents the main address for your entire network. Although each device within the network has its own private IP address, they all share the public IP address when interacting with external networks. Your Internet Service Provider (ISP) assigns this public IP address to your router. Typically, ISPs manage a large pool of IP addresses, which they allocate to their customers. The public IP is what devices outside your network use to identify and interact with your network.
How does IP work?
Imagine the process as akin to a postal service. When you send a letter, you label it with the recipient’s name and address before placing it in the mailbox. From there, it travels to a sorting center, where it is organized based on its destination and subsequently dispatched. The Internet Protocol (IP) operates in a comparable manner.
When transmitting data online, the information is divided into smaller units known as packets. Each packet carries details regarding its origin and destination, referred to as the source and destination IP addresses, along with the actual data. These packets are then released onto the internet, traversing various networks and devices until they arrive at their intended location.
IP Addressing
The widely used addressing format today is Internet Protocol version 4 (IPv4), which segments an IP address into a sub-network and an end device. This is similar to how a letter’s address includes both the street name and the specific house number. For instance, an IP address of 192.168.1.52 indicates that it belongs to the 192.168.1.x sub-network, specifically targeting the 52nd device within that network.
Switches and Routers
As packets make their journey, devices known as switches and routers utilize the address information contained within each packet to determine their next destination. If the packet is destined for a device on the same sub-network, it may be sent directly (a process called switching). Alternatively, if it’s bound for a different sub-network, it may be routed through another device that is closer to its target (known as routing). This division of the Internet—and often your local network—into smaller sub-networks enhances manageability and optimizes performance. This process of switching and routing continues until all packets reach their destination and are reassembled into the original data, allowing you to read emails, browse websites, or stream videos seamlessly.
IP network protocols
- IP Address: An IP address is a numerical label assigned to each device connected to a network that uses the Internet Protocol for communication. Its primary functions are to identify the host or network interface and provide location addressing.
- Packet: A packet is a small unit of data exchanged between a source and a destination over the Internet or any other network utilizing packet-switching technology. Each packet typically contains a header and a payload.
- Router: A router is a device within a network that directs data packets between different computer networks. It performs the essential task of managing and directing internet traffic.
- IPv4: Internet Protocol version 4 (IPv4) is a protocol that facilitates connectivity among devices online. It operates at the application layer, which underpins the majority of Internet communications today.
- IPv6: Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6), the latest upgrade to the Internet Protocol series, is responsible for identifying, locating, and routing devices across the Internet to ensure smooth traffic flow.
Differences between IPv4 and IPv6
Throughout much of the internet’s history, the most commonly used version of the Internet Protocol has been IPv4 (Internet Protocol Version 4).
IPv4 utilizes a 32-bit addressing format, divided into four segments. An example of an IPv4 address might be 192.168.0.1, which is often the default address for many consumer routers. IPv4 supports a maximum of 4,294,967,296 unique addresses.
One of IPv4’s key advantages is its simplicity and widespread use, making it the default protocol for many systems. However, a major limitation of IPv4 is its finite address space, leading to what’s known as IPv4 address exhaustion. There are simply not enough IPv4 addresses to meet global demand. Since 2011, the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA) has run out of new IPv4 address blocks, leaving Regional Internet Registries (RIRs) with limited options for allocating new public IPv4 addresses.
In comparison, IPv6 introduces a 128-bit addressing system, vastly increasing the available address space to 340 trillion unique IP addresses. An IPv6 address is structured into eight sections. For example, an IPv6 address might look like this: xxxx:xxxx:xxxx:xxxx:xxxx:xxxx:xxxx
, with each “x” representing a hexadecimal digit, corresponding to 4 bits.
The enormous address space of IPv6 is its most significant advantage, enabling it to accommodate future growth in internet-connected devices. However, its complexity, due to the sheer size of the address space, presents challenges for network administrators in terms of monitoring and management.
IP network protocols
IP is a connectionless protocol, meaning there is no persistent connection between the communicating endpoints. Each packet sent over the internet is treated as a standalone unit of data, independent of any other packets. The reason packets are reassembled in the correct order is due to TCP, a connection-oriented protocol that tracks the sequence of packets within a message.
In the OSI (Open Systems Interconnection) model, IP operates at layer 3, which is the network layer.
Several well-known network protocols run on top of IP, including:
- TCP: Transmission Control Protocol facilitates data flow across IP connections, ensuring reliable communication.
- UDP: User Datagram Protocol allows for low-latency communication, commonly used for DNS lookups and Voice over IP (VoIP).
- FTP: File Transfer Protocol is used for accessing, managing, uploading, copying, and deleting files between connected IP hosts.
- HTTP: Hypertext Transfer Protocol powers the modern web by enabling websites and browsers to communicate and display content, typically running over port 80.
- HTTPS: Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure is an encrypted version of HTTP, using SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) or TLS (Transport Layer Security) to secure communication. It generally operates over port 443.
The Function of IP
The primary role of the Internet Protocol (IP) is to assign addresses to hosts, encapsulate data into a structured packet format, and facilitate the routing of this data from its source to its destination across one or multiple IP networks. To fulfill these functions, the Internet Protocol establishes two key components:
- The structure of IP packets
- The system for IP addressing
What is an IP packet?
Before transmitting an IP packet across a network, two essential components are incorporated: the header and the payload. The IP header contains a wealth of information regarding the packet, which includes:
- Source IP address: Identifies the sender of the data.
- Destination IP address: Specifies the host that will receive the data from the sender.
- Header length
- Packet length
- TTL (Time to Live): Indicates the number of hops allowed before the packet is discarded.
- Transport protocol: Denotes whether TCP or UDP is used in conjunction with the Internet Protocol.
What is IP Addressing?
An IP address serves as a distinct identifier assigned to a computer connected to the internet. Each address is represented by a series of numbers, such as 192.168.1.2. Since users cannot directly access websites using these numerical addresses, DNS resolvers are employed to translate human-friendly domain names into these numeric formats. Each IP packet includes two addresses: the IP address of the sending device and the IP address of the receiving device.
How does IP routing work?
The Internet consists of a vast array of interconnected networks, each managing specific blocks of IP addresses; these networks are referred to as autonomous systems (AS). Various routing protocols, such as BGP, facilitate the movement of packets across different ASes based on their destination IP addresses. Routers maintain routing tables that guide packets through the appropriate ASes to ensure they reach their intended destinations swiftly. Packets journey from one AS to another until they arrive at the AS responsible for the target IP address, which then routes the packets internally to the final destination.
Protocols add packet headers at various layers of the OSI model:
Packets have the flexibility to follow various paths to reach the same destination, much like a group of individuals traveling to a common location can choose different routes to arrive there.
How to Protect Your IP Address
Safeguarding your IP address is essential for maintaining the security and privacy of your network and systems. Users can protect their IP addresses through various methods, including utilizing firewalls, keeping software up to date, employing VPNs, and activating two-factor authentication.
- Utilize a Firewall: A firewall serves to shield your IP address from unauthorized access. It acts as a protective barrier between your network and potential threats from outside, filtering both incoming and outgoing traffic according to set rules. Make sure to configure your firewall to block any suspicious IP addresses and limit access to potentially harmful websites.
- Keep Software Current: Regular updates to your operating system, applications, and firmware are vital for fixing security vulnerabilities. Outdated software can leave your IP address vulnerable to attacks. Consider enabling automatic updates or routinely checking for updates from reliable sources to ensure you are protected with the latest security enhancements.
- Employ VPNs: Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) encrypt your internet traffic and direct it through a secure server, which conceals your IP address. This encryption helps safeguard your IP from unauthorized access and eavesdropping. Select a trustworthy VPN provider and activate it whenever you connect to public networks or need to handle sensitive information.
- Activate Two-Factor Authentication (2FA): Implementing 2FA adds an additional layer of security for your accounts and devices. This requires users to provide a second form of verification, such as a unique code sent to their mobile device, in addition to their password. This measure helps prevent unauthorized access even if someone manages to acquire your IP address and password.
