Understanding IP, IPv4 vs

IPv6, and IPv4 Classes

What is IP?

• IP stands for Internet Protocol.

• It is a set of rules that govern how data is transmitted over

the internet.

• IP is responsible for assigning unique addresses to devices

connected to the internet, so they can send and receive data.
 IPv4 vs IPv6

• IPv6 (Internet Protocol version 6) is

• IPv4 (Internet Protocol version 4) is the next generation of IP.
the most widely used version of IP.
• IPv6 uses a 128-bit address format,
• IPv4 uses a 32-bit address format, which provides an astronomical
which provides approximately 4.3 number of unique IP addresses
billion unique IP addresses. (about 3.4 x 10^38).
• IPv4 addresses are written in decimal
format with four sets of numbers
separated by periods, e.g.,
192.168.1.1.
• However, due to the increasing
number of devices connected to the
internet, IPv4 addresses are
becoming scarce.
• IPv6 addresses are written in
hexadecimal format with eight sets
of numbers separated by colons, e.g.,
2001:0db8:85a3:0000:0000:8a2e:03
70:7334.
• IPv6 also includes several other
improvements over IPv4, such as
better security, auto-configuration,
and improved efficiency.
IPV4
 IPv4 Classes
• IPv4 addresses are divided into different classes based on their network size and
address range.

• There are five classes of IPv4 addresses: Class A, Class B, Class C, Class D, and Class
E.

• Class A addresses have the first bit set to 0, and they are used for large networks.

• Class B addresses have the first two bits set to 10, and they are used for medium-
sized networks.
IPv4 Classes (cont.)

• Class C addresses have the first three bits set to 110, and they are
used for small networks.

• Class D addresses have the first four bits set to 1110, and they are
used for multicast addresses.

• Class E addresses have the first four bits set to 1111, and they are
reserved for future use.
 IPv4 Classes (cont.)
• Class A addresses have an 8-bit network prefix and a 24-bit host address.

• Class B addresses have a 16-bit network prefix and a 16-bit host address.

• Class C addresses have a 24-bit network prefix and an 8-bit host address.

• Class D addresses are used for multicast, which means they are used to send
data to multiple devices simultaneously.

• Class E addresses are reserved for future use and are not currently used on the
public internet.
 IPv4 Classes (cont.)
• Class A (0-127)
• Class B (128-191)
• Class C (192-223)
• Class D (224-239)
• Class E (240-255)

Image source: https://computernetworkingsimplified.wordpress.com/2015/01/22/an-overview-of-the-ipv4-address-structure/

Out Comes

• IP (Internet Protocol) is a set of rules that govern how data is

transmitted over the Internet.
• IPv4 (Internet Protocol version 4) is the most widely used
version of IP but is facing address exhaustion issues.
• IPv6 (Internet Protocol version 6) is the next generation of IP,
which provides a vast number of unique IP addresses and
several other improvements.
• IPv4 addresses are divided into different classes (Class A,
Class B, Class C, Class D, and Class E) based on their network
size and address range.
• Understanding IP, IPv4, IPv6, and IPv4 classes is essential for
managing and troubleshooting network configurations in the
modern internet era.