What is a Network?
A network is a collection of computers and devices connected together to share resources, such as files,
printers, or internet connections. Networks can vary in size and complexity, ranging from small home
networks to large corporate or global networks.
Types of Networks
1. Local Area Network (LAN):
o Covers a small geographic area, like a home, school, or office.
o Typically uses Ethernet or Wi-Fi.
2. Wide Area Network (WAN):
o Covers a large geographic area, often connecting multiple LANs.
o The internet is the largest WAN.
3. Metropolitan Area Network (MAN):
o Spans a city or a large campus.
o Often used by government organizations or large corporations.
4. Personal Area Network (PAN):
o A small network for personal devices, like smartphones and laptops, often using
Bluetooth.
What is an IP Address?
An IP address (Internet Protocol address) is a unique numerical label assigned to each device connected
to a network. It serves two main functions:
1. Identification: Identifies the device on the network.
2. Location Addressing: Indicates where the device is located within the network.
Types of IP Addresses
1. Public IP Address:
o Assigned to devices that connect directly to the internet.
o [Link]
o [Link]
o Can be accessed from anywhere on the internet.
2. Private IP Address:
o Used within private networks (like a home or office).
o Not routable on the internet. Common private IP address ranges include:
▪ [Link] to [Link]
▪ [Link] to [Link]
▪ [Link] to [Link]
3. Dynamic IP Address:
o Assigned temporarily by a DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) server.
o Can change each time a device connects to the network.
4. Static IP Address:
o Permanently assigned to a device.
o Remains constant and is often used for servers.
How Networks and IP Addresses Work Together
1. Connecting Devices:
o When devices connect to a network, they are assigned IP addresses (either dynamically
or statically).
2. Routing Data:
o When data is sent from one device to another, the source and destination IP addresses
in the packets guide routers on how to forward the packets across the network.
3. Subnets:
o Networks can be divided into subnets for better organization and performance. Each
subnet has its own range of IP addresses.
4. Network Address Translation (NAT):
o Allows multiple devices on a private network to share a single public IP address for
internet access, translating private IP addresses to the public one.