IP Address

Also known as an IP number, it is a code made up of numbers separated by 4 dots that identifies a particular computer on the Internet. Every computer, whether it be a web server or the computer you're using right now, requires an IP address to connect to the Internet. For example, the IP address of everyone's favorite computer resource, Sharpened.net, is 216.147.47.134. If you have a standard dial-up account with an Internet Service Provider (ISP), you will either be assigned a static IP address (which is always the same), or you will be given a dynamic IP address, (which changes everytime you log on). ISPs typically assign users a dynamic IP address each time they sign on because it cuts down on the number of IP addresses they must register. However, if you connect to the Internet through a network, it is very likely that you have a static IP address. ISPs and organizations usually apply to the InterNIC for a range of IP addresses so that all their clients have similar addresses. There are three classes of IP address sets: Class C, which consists of 255 unique IP numbers, class B which will gives you 65,000 unique IP addresses, and class A addresses are for very large companies. Because the InterNIC is actually running out of IP addresses, and therefore, ranges of IPs, Class A and Class B addresses are very hard to get. Most large companies have to get multiple Class C addresses instead. In case you care, the Internet Engineering Task Force, which brought us the IP protocol in the first place, is working on a new protocol called "IP Next Generation" or IPng.