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IPv4

What is IPV4?

IPv4 stands for Internet Protocol Version 4. It is the fourth version of the Internet Protocol (IP) and is the first version of the protocol to be widely deployed. IPv4 is the underlying technology that makes it possible for us to connect our devices to the web. Essentially, it’s responsible for identifying devices on a network through an addressing system. Each device is assigned a unique IP address that allows it to communicate with other devices over the internet. IPv4 uses a 32-bit address scheme, which allows for a total of approximately 4.3 billion unique addresses.

Understanding IPv4

  1. IPv4 Addressing:
    • An IPv4 address is a 32-bit number that is typically represented in decimal format as four numbers separated by periods (for example, 192.168.1.1). Each number can range from 0 to 255. This representation is known as “dotted decimal notation”.
    • The address is divided into two parts: the network part and the host part. The division is determined by the class of the address, which is based on the IP address’s first few bits.
  2. Address Classes:
    • IPv4 addresses are divided into five classes: A, B, C, D, and E. Each class allocates one portion of the 32-bit address format to the network identifier and the remaining portion to the host identifier.
    • Classes A, B, and C are used for regular unicast addresses, where Class A supports a small number of networks but with a large number of hosts, Class B supports a moderate number of networks and hosts, and Class C supports a large number of networks with a small number of hosts.
    • Class D is used for multicast, and Class E is reserved for future or experimental purposes.
  3. Subnetting:
    • Subnetting is a technique used to divide a network into two or more smaller networks (subnets). It improves routing efficiency, enhances security, and helps manage network traffic.
    • In subnetting, the IP address is further divided into a network, a subnet, and a host number.
  4. IPv4 Exhaustion:
    • Due to the exponential growth of the Internet and its users, IPv4 addresses have become scarce, a situation often referred to as “IPv4 exhaustion.”
    • This has led to the development of several stop-gap measures, including the use of Network Address Translation (NAT) to allow multiple devices on a private network to share a single public IP address.
  5. Transition to IPv6:
    • IPv6 is the most recent version of the Internet Protocol, designed to address the long-anticipated problem of IPv4 address exhaustion.
    • IPv6 uses a 128-bit address, allowing for a significantly larger number of addresses compared to IPv4. This transition is critical for the continued growth and sustainability of the Internet.
  6. Security and Routing:
    • IPv4 provides a number of routing and security features, but it was not originally designed with security in mind. Security measures, such as IPsec, are often added to IPv4 as optional extensions.
    • IPv4 also supports various routing protocols, like Routing Information Protocol (RIP) and Open Shortest Path First (OSPF), that are used to route traffic across the internet efficiently.

In summary, IPv4 has been a foundational technology for the internet, providing unique addresses to devices for communication over the network. Despite its limitations, such as the limited address space leading to exhaustion, IPv4 has been instrumental in the development of the modern internet, and its principles continue to be relevant even as the world transitions to IPv6.