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IP Address (Internet Protocol Address):

Computers that are connected to the internet are all assigned their own IP addresses. An IP address is made up of four numbers separated by dots that to a computer represent binary code and to me and you represent letters. The numbers range from 0-255 and you can have exactly 4,294,967,296 IP addresses using this formula. This is IP v4. Recently it is becoming difficult to assign computers with IP addresses as they are all being used up and so the invention of IP V6 is now being implemented.

Domain Name System (DNS)

It is the Domain Name System (DNS) that allows the numbers of the IP address to be translated into words. This has come about as it is much easier for you to remember a name than four numbers.

For example it is far easier to remember www.google.com than www.216.239.51.99.com.

Dynamic IP Address

If you have a Dynamic IP address then it can change at any time. This usually occurs if your internet service provider supplies you with a collection of IP addresses. Some companies may want to use dynamic IP addresses to avoid hacks or manipulation.

When you log on to a network that used dynamic IP then it will assign you with an IP address that will change the next time you log.

If you are running your own web server then it is best to use a static IP address as you will not run into problems.

Static IP Address

A static IP address never changes. It is a fixed address supplied by your Internet Service Provider and it is best used if you have your own server or you are hosting your own web page. If you ask your ISP you can usually get a block of static IP's for an extra fee a month.

IP version 4

Currently used by most network devices. However, with more and more computers accessing the internet, IPv4 addresses are running out quickly. Just like in a city, addresses have to be created for new neighborhoods but, if your neighborhood gets too large, you will have to come up with an entire new pool of addresses. IPv4 is limited to 4,294,967,296 addresses.

IP version 5

This was an experimental IP that now only serves UNIX based systems. It uses odd numbers and so was always considered experimental and so it was not rolled out to the general public.

IP version 6

This is the newest form of Internet Protocol addresses which is going to be used over the old IP V4. It will not replace IP V4 as IP V6 can run alongside the old version.

The estimated number for the new IP V6 is 340,282,366,920,938,463,463,374,607,431,768,211,456 or 2^128.

The old and current standard of addresses was this: 192.168.100.100 the new way can be written different ways but means the same and are all valid:

Top Level Domains

Domains are the ending suffix of an Univeral Resource Locator (URL). Some examples are .org, .com, .edu, .co.uk, etc. They all serve different purposes, for example, .com is for commercial purposes, .org for organisations, .edu for educational sites for schools.

Top level domains were expanded to 2000 to include such domains as .name, .travel and others. There is also a mnemonic two-letter country designators such as .ca for Canada and .rus for Russia.

References

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