FAQ    

 

 

What is Internet Protocol ?

The Internet Protocol (IP) is a fundamental protocol used for transferring packets of data across network boundaries. It is a core part of the TCP/IP suite, which is the basis for data exchange on the Internet.

Key Functions of IP

  • Addressing: Every device connected to the internet is assigned a unique IP address which identifies the sender or receiver of information.
  • Routing: IP is responsible for routing data packets from the source host to the destination host by determining the best path across a complex network of routes.
  • Fragmentation and Reassembly: IP can fragment large data packets into smaller ones to facilitate easier routing and then reassemble them at the destination.
  • Error Handling and Diagnostics: Although IP does not ensure error-free delivery, it utilizes the Internet Control Message Protocol (ICMP) for error reporting and diagnostics.

Types of IP Addresses

There are two versions of IP addresses used on the internet:
  1. IPv4: Consists of 32-bit numeric addresses (e.g., 192.168.1.1).
  2. IPv6: Developed to deal with the eventual exhaustion of IPv4 addresses, these are 128-bit hexadecimal addresses (e.g., 2001:0db8:85a3:0000:0000:8a2e:0370:7334).