Language
Country/Area
No result found
Mysterious IP Address: Why are 32-bit IPv4 addresses so important?
In the development history of the Internet, IPv4, as the first independent network protocol version, was first deployed on SATNET in 1982 and put into use on ARPANET in 1983. Although the use of IPv4 is gradually decreasing with the introduction of IPv6, it is still one of the most important protocols in the Internet because its 32-bit address space is sufficient to provide more than 4.2 billion unique IP addresses. This makes IPv4 play an indispensable role in the network.
Historical BackgroundThe history of IPv4 can be traced back to the publication of RFC 791 in 1981, which distinguished the Internet Protocol from the transport protocol, making IPv4 an independent network protocol. Initially, the number of addresses provided by IPv4 was far from enough to support current Internet needs, and the rapid consumption of various resources forced technicians to seek solutions.
From 8-bit Class A to 32-bit IPv4, the change in network address distribution has profoundly affected our Internet experience.
Function and Purpose of IPv4
As one of the core protocols of the Internet Protocol Suite, IPv4 not only defines and enables interconnection between networks, but also has the basic functions of data packet routing and sending. This connection is debt-free and can operate using a so-called “best effort delivery” model, with no promises made about the exact delivery or order of data.
Address structure and restrictions
IPv4 addresses use a 32-bit structure. Although theoretically up to 4294967296 addresses can be provided, a large number of them are reserved for specific purposes. For example, some private networks and multicast addresses have been reserved, which makes the actual available public IP addresses a little tight.
By harvesting IPv4 addresses, we are able to build an Internet large enough to support even the growing use of mobile devices.
Addresses for specific purposes
The IETF and IANA restrict the general use of some IP addresses, such as addresses for multicast communications and private networks. There are approximately 18 million addresses reserved for private networks. These addresses cannot be routed on the public Internet and address translation is required to enable communication between public and private networks.
Address exhaustion phenomenon
With the rapid development of the Internet in the 1990s, the problem of IPv4 address exhaustion became increasingly prominent. Technological advances and the increase in devices have led to more and more user demands, which have prompted IPv4 to seek newer types of network management technologies to slow down the rate of address consumption. At the end of the 195th century, IANA announced that the IPv4 address pool had been exhausted in 2011, making the promotion of IPv6 imminent.
Structure and operation mode
Each IP packet consists of two parts: header and data. The IPv4 packet header contains up to 14 fields, including the source and destination addresses. This design allows different conversion protocols to run smoothly on the Internet.
Future Outlook: IPv6
With the exhaustion of IPv4 addresses, the introduction of IPv6 is clearly a necessary future direction. IPv6 has a larger address space and higher routing efficiency. As people become more and more dependent on the Internet, can the fate of IPv4 be continued in the future?
As the cornerstone of current network communications, IPv4 cannot be easily replaced. Faced with the ever-increasing demand for the Internet, how will we find a balance between IPv4 and IPv6 in the future?
