IP Address Glossary

08/05/2017 16:00

IP Address Your unique numeric identifier as one node or device connected to the Internet. IP stands for Internet Protocol. IP Addresses are similar to phone numbers in that they are a way of uniquely identifying you for others (usually computers) to be able to communicate and/or contact you. Similar to a phone directory, your Domain Name is used to lookup your IP Address in the Internet Domain Name System. Every IP Address consists of 4 numbers separated by periods, with each number between 0 and 255, for example your current IP address 207.241.237.214. Your IP address is controlled and assigned by your Internet Service Provider (ISP), which is currently Internet Archive in your case, who are in business acting under the authority of the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA) who in turn gets the numbering scheme from InterNic.

For the technically minded: Internet Protocol RFC's
For APNIC's guide to IPv6
For Latin American and Caribbean Internet Addresses Registry LACNIC.net
For Regional Internet Registry primarily servicing Europe, Middle East, northern Africa, and parts of Asia: RIPE.net
For American Registry for Internet Numbers: ARIN.net
Static IP Address Your Internet Service Provider (ISP) will assign you an IP Address every time you connect to the Internet. If this IP Address is guaranteed by the ISP to be the same every time you connect, then this is called a Static IP Address.
Dynamic IP Address If your ISP has the option of assigning you a different IP Address whenever you connect to the Internet, this is called a Dynamic IP Address. Contracts with ISP's that provide for Dynamic IP Addressing will almost always cost you less than a contract for a Static IP Address.

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Dial-Up Access If you connect to the Internet over a modem and telephone line, this is what is called Dial-Up Access.
Broadband Access If you connect to the Internet over a cable modem, DSL line, T1, or satellite connection this is what is called Broadband Access. This is usually an "always on" connection, which means that you are always connected to the Internet without having to connect and log in each time. Wi-Fi wireless connections are usually a front-end to one of these forms of Broadband connection, that require users to log in each time through HotSpots, which are public, wireless Access Points, or through private wireless Access Points.
Public IP Address The IP Address that you make known to others on the Internet is called your Public IP Address.
Private IP Address The IP Address that you use internally within your office, home or enterprise network, which is NOT made known to others on the Internet, is called your Private IP Address. In this case you would have both a Public and a Private IP address, and in most instances you would be sharing your Public IP Address with others on your internal network, but your Private IP Address would be unique within your network. Private IP Addresses must be in one of 3 allowed ranges: 10.0.0.0 - 10.255.255.255, 172.16.0.0 - 172.31.255.255 or 192.168.0.0 - 192.168.255.255.

127.0.0.1 is a special purpose private IP Address that is reserved to refer to your own computer/device, and is also referred to with the host name "localhost".

Technical details: RFC 1918 - Address Allocation for Private Internets