IP
IP is the acronym for Internet Protocol, which is the method through which data is sent from one computer to another by means of an Internet connection. The IP uniquely identifies a node on the Internet.
How Does the IP Operate?
Each computer or device, known as the "host", has at least one IP address which differentiates it from other computers. When data is sent over the Internet the information is divided into small bits known as "packages", which contain the Internet address of the sender (packet's origin) and the receiver host address (destination device). There are the two main numeric addresses and components of each data package.
The Internet Protocol's main duty is to deliver these "packages" to the right destination, but it is not responsible for the order in which the packages arrive. Putting the packages into the right order so that the message/data/information is accurately sent is the responsibility of the Transmission Control Protocol.[1]
The IP considers each package of data as a unique and independent unit of information but the IP must always be in contact with the TCP in order to send the message. The latest IP version is IPv6 which succeeded IPv4. There are some important differences between IPv6 and IPV4 which make the last version more functional and effective.
IP versions
Currently, there are two IP versions in use: IPv4 and IPv6 and each of these versions describes the IP in a different manner.
According to IPv4, the address contained 32 bits and there are private networks and multicast networks. The IPv4 addresses are consist of four decimal numbers ranging between 0-255, but the IPv4 address can also be represented as binary, octal or hexadecimal forms. The IPv4 addresses were exhausted due to the low supply of allocated addresses from IANA (Internet Assigned Numbers Authority) and the RIRs (Regional Internet Registries).
According to IPv6 was a great solution once the exhaustion of IPv4 increased exponentially. The IETF (Internet Engineering Task Force) decided to explore new technologies by expanding the address capability of the Internet. IPv6 does not guarantee sufficient quantity of addresses but it definitely enables an efficient aggregation and allocation of rooting prefixes for routing nodes.
The RFC's are a type of memorandum where there are describes methods, research and innovations which are applicable in the Internet systems. The RFCs published by IETF (Internet Engineering Task Force) related IPv6 are listed be:
- RFC 2474 "Definition of the Differentiated Services Field (DS Field) in the IPv4 and IPv6 Headers"
- RFC 3142 "An IPv6-to-IPv4 Transport Relay Translator"
- RFC 4213 "Basic Transition Mechanisms for IPv6 Hosts and Routers"
- RFC 4215 "Analysis on IPv6 Transition in Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) Networks"
- RFC 4338 "Transmission of IPv6, IPv4, and Address Resolution Protocol (ARP) Packets over Fibre Channel"
- RFC 4477 "Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP): IPv4 and IPv6 Dual-Stack Issues" [2]