Computer Networks
IP ADDRESS
CLASSES
IP ADDRESS CLASSES
-a historical way to categoriway to categorize the
network structure of different IP networks and the
number of devices they can support. It’s a method
of allocating addresses used in an IPv4-based
networking system that allows the devices to
communicate with each other and connect to the
internet.
WHERE DO WE USE IP ADDRESS
CLASSES?
-Address class are designed to cater to various network
needs, making IP address allocation more efficient and
manageable. Understanding these classes is crucial for
network administrators. These addresses are part of the
Internet Protocol (IP), which defines the rules for formatting
and routing data across networks. IP addresses are divided into
five classes – each designed for specific network sizes and
purposes.
Class A
Class B
5 CLASSES OF Class C
IP ADDRESSES
Class D
Class E
CLASS A
• Class A addresses - are used by networks that accommodate a
large number of hosts (Internet service providers and large
corporations - such as Google and Apple). It only uses the first
octet (0) of addresses for network portion, with the remaining
three octets determining its host portion. Allows you to connect a
vast number of devices to a network, like smartphones, printers, or
computers to a single router. Class A addresses are primarily
assigned to large organizations rather than individual internet
users.
CLASS A
Class Leading network host number of number Range subnet
Bits portion portion networks of hosts mask
size size
A 0 8 24 126 16,777,2 1.0.0.0 - 255.0.0.0
14 126.255.255.255
• The public IP range is 1.0.0.0 to 126.255.255.255.
• The first octet value ranges from 1 to 126.
• The private IP range is 10.0.0.0 to 10.255.255.255.
• The subnet mask is 255.0.0.0 (8 bits).
• The number of hosts per network is 16,777,214.
• The number of networks is 128, but only 126 are usable.
CLASS B
• Class B addresses - are used by systems with a moderate number of users in the
same network, like an enterprise, university, or company. It uses the first two
octets (1&0) of addresses to identify the network portion, while the last two will
determine its host portion.
• The public IP range is 128.0.0.0 to 191.255.255.255.
• The first octet value ranges from 128 to 191.
• The private IP range is 172.16.0.0 to 172.31.255.255.
• The subnet mask is 255.255.0.0 (16 bits).
• The number of hosts per network is 65,534.
• The number of networks is 16,382.
• often used for mid-to-large-sized networks due to its larger address space.
CLASS B
Class Leading network host number of number of Range subnet
Bits portion portion networks hosts mask
size size
B 10 16 16 16,382 65,534 128.0.0.0 - 255.255.0
191.255.255.255 .0
CLASS C
• Class C addresses - Class C addresses are
used by smaller networks, such as those
found in small businesses and private
networks. It uses the first three octets (1 1
0) of your address for your network portion,
with the host portion represented by the last
octet.
CLASS C
Class Leading network host number of number Range subnet
Bits portion portion networks of hosts mask
size size
C 110 24 8 2097152 256 192.0.0.0 - 255.255.25
223.255.255 5.0
• The public IP range is 192.0.0.0 to 223.255.255.
• The first octet value ranges from 192 to 223.
• The private IP range is 192.168.0.0 to 192.168.255.255.
• The subnet mask is 255.255.255.0 (24 bits).
• The number of hosts per network is 254.
• The number of networks is 2,097,152.
• often used for LAN connections or smaller organizations.
CLASS D
• Class D Addresses - are not allocated to hosts and are used for
multicasting. Multicasting allows a single host to send a single stream of
data to thousands of hosts across the Internet at the same time. It is often
used for audio and video streaming, such as IP-based cable TV networks.
• Unlike Class A, B, and C, IPs in this class are not 'owned' by a specific
entity. They are instead used temporarily and within an enterprise
network for streaming content to multiple recipients simultaneously over
their networks. For example, Zoom Communication uses Class D addresses
for internal webinars or live video broadcast or a financial firm using it to
deliver real-time stock market data to their customers.
CLASS D
• Range: 224.0.0.0 to 239.255.255.255
• First octet value range from 224 to 239
• Number of Networks: N/A
• Number of Hosts per Network: Multicasting
• Leading Bits: 1110
• Purpose: Reserved for multicast groups, allowing a single
sender to transmit data to multiple recipients simultaneously.
Class D addresses are not assigned to individual hosts.
CLASS E
• Class E Addresses - are not allocated to hosts and are
not available for general use. These are reserved for
research purposes.
• Range: 240.0.0.0 to 255.255.255.255
• First octet value range from 240 to 255
• Number of Networks: N/A
• Leading Bits: 111
• Number of Hosts per Network:
• Both Class D and E – subnetting is
cannot be performed. So these classes
cannot be farther divided into a
subnetwork. So they all have no
subnet mask. They are reserved for
Multicasting and Military functions.
TO IDENTIFY THE CLASS OF THE IP ADDRESS, CHECK THE VALUE OF
THE FIRST SECTION OR OCTET AND USE THE FOLLOWING RULES.
• If the value is in the range 1 to 126, the address belongs to
class A.
• If the value is in the range 128 to 191, the address belongs to
class B.
• If the value is in the range 192 to 223, the address belongs to
class C.
• If the value is in the range 224 to 239, the address belongs to
• The number of networks is 128, but only 126 are usable. This is because
the 127.x.x.x range is reserved for loopback addresses, and 0.0.0.0 is
reserved for the default route, leaving 126 available network ranges. Thus,
two addresses are subtracted.
• The class determines the number of bits
allocated to network ID and host ID. The total
number of networks and hosts in each class can
be calculated. Each class serves a specific
STRUCTURE OF A CLASS A IP ADDRESS
• Network ID is 8 bits long.
• Host ID is 24 bits long.
• The higher-order bit of the first octet in class A is always 0.
• The remaining 7 bits in the first octet are used to determine
network ID.
Therefore,
Number of Networks in Class A: 27 = 128 ⟹ (0 -
127) networks
• 0.0.0.0 -This address is generally not assigned to a specific device.
Instead, it serves as a placeholder or a default route. For instance, it
can be used in server applications to indicate that the application
should listen on all available network interfaces.
• Default Route -often called the 'gateway of last resort', acts like a
backup plan for network traffic. When a router doesn’t have a specific
route for a data packet, it uses the default route to forward it to a
predefined next hop.
In technical terms:
• IPv4 default route: 0.0.0.0/0
• IPv6 default route: ::/0
• This means, 'If there's no specific route, send it here.'
• 127.0.0.0 - This entire range, including 127.0.0.1 (often referred
to as localhost), is reserved for loopback functionality. It allows a
device to send network traffic to itself, which is useful for testing
and development purposes. Any traffic destined for this range is
handled internally by the device and never leaves the machine.
• Loopback address - commonly known as “localhost” is an
internal address that directs network traffic back to the same
device. It is used to test network software and hardware on the
local machine. Commonly used to ensure that the Transmission
Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) stack on the local
machine is functioning properly.
the
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