Справочное Руководство для Netopia 430 s

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Netopia ISDN Router Reference Guide
About IP addressing
Ever y networking protocol uses some form of addressing in order to 
ensure that packets are delivered correctly. In IP, individual network 
devices that are initial sources and final destinations of packets are 
usually called hosts, instead of nodes, but the two terms are inter-
changeable. Each host on an IP network must have a unique IP 
address. An IP address, also called an Internet address, is a 32-bit 
number usually expressed as four decimal numbers separated by 
periods. Each decimal number in an IP address represents a 1-byte 
(8-bit) binar y number. Thus, values for each of the four numbers 
range from 00000000 to 11111111 in binar y notation, or from 0 to 
255 in decimal notation. The expression 192.9.200.3 is a typical 
example of an IP address.
IP addresses indicate both the identity of the network and the 
identity of the individual host on the network. The number of bits 
used for the network number and the number of bits used for the 
host number can var y, as long as cer tain rules are followed. The 
local network manager assigns IP host numbers to individual 
machines. 
IP addresses are maintained and assigned by the InterNIC, a 
quasi-governmental organization now increasingly under the 
auspices of private industr y. 
Note: It’s ver y common for an organization to obtain an IP address 
from a third par ty, usually an Internet ser vice provider (ISP). ISPs 
usually issue an IP address when they are contracted to provide 
Internet access ser vices.
The InterNIC (the NIC stands for Network Information Center) divides 
IP addresses into several classes. Classes A, B, and C are assigned 
to organizations who request addresses. In Class A networks, the 
first byte of an IP address is reser ved for the network por tion of the 
address. Class B networks reser ve the first two bytes of an IP 
address for the network address. Class C networks reser ve the first 
three bytes of an IP address for the network address. In all cases, a 
network manager can decide to use subnetting to assign even more 
bits to the network por tion of the IP address, but never less than 
the class requires. The following section gives more information on 
subnetting.