What network does a residential IP address belong to? This is a very interesting question. I'm going to answer this question to you in more detail today, so let's explore it together without modeling it!
1. The rise of the residential Internet of Things
With the development of technology, many devices in people's lives are gradually becoming Internet-connected, forming a huge Internet of Things (IoT) network. From cell phones and computers to home devices such as lights, air conditioners and even TVs, each device requires a specific IP address to communicate. In this way, our homes also become a network node with its own IP address.
2. Composition of IP addresses
The so-called IP address, short for Internet Protocol Address. It consists of a 32-bit binary number, usually displayed as four groups of decimal numbers separated by dots. Our common IP address format is as follows: 192.168.1.1.
3. LAN and public IP addresses
Among the networks in a residence, it is common to have a Local Area Network (LAN) and a Public Network (Wide Area Network, WAN). A LAN refers to a network within a relatively small geographic area, such as within a residence. A public network, on the other hand, refers to a network used to connect different LANs, such as the Internet.
In a LAN, each device is assigned a private IP address for communication within the LAN. These private IP addresses are usually in a specific address segment, such as 192.168.0.0 to 192.168.255.255.Devices on a LAN can be connected to the public network through a router.
4. Routers and network address translation
A router, commonly found in homes, is an important network device. It is responsible for connecting devices on the LAN to the external public network and accomplishes the function of Network Address Translation (NAT).
In a residential network, the router usually assigns a public IP address to the entire residential network. This public IP address is assigned by the Internet Service Provider (ISP). In contrast, within a LAN, each device is assigned a private IP address.
When a device on the LAN needs to access the Internet, the router converts the packet from a private IP address to a public IP address to enable communication with the external network. Similarly, when packets are returned from the external network, the router converts the packets from a public IP address to a private IP address within the LAN to ensure that the data is delivered correctly to the target device.
5. Dynamic and static IPs
In residential networks, IP addresses are categorized as either dynamic IP or static IP. Dynamic IP addresses refer to IP addresses that are automatically assigned each time you reconnect to the network, while static IP addresses are assigned manually by the network service provider.
The benefit of dynamic IP addresses is that they save on the use of IP addresses; an IP address can be assigned to different devices for use at different times. Static IP addresses, on the other hand, make it easy to expose a particular device to the public network for remote access and management.
In residential networks, dynamic IP addresses are often used because most homes do not need to expose their devices to the outside world.
concluding remarks
By analyzing the above, we can conclude that the residential IP address belongs to the local area network (LAN), which in turn is connected to the public network through a router. Each residential device is assigned a private IP address and communicates with the external network through Network Address Translation (NAT).
Of course, this is just a brief explanation and there are many more details to consider in an actual network. Hopefully, this article has provided a primer on IP addresses in residential networks. If you want to delve further into how networks work, you may want to learn about computer networks!
In conclusion, I hope this article has brought you some interesting information and I look forward to learning more about IP addresses in residential networks!