Internet Protocol Tutorial - Lessons in Computer Networking GA S REGULAR Menu Lifewire Tech for Humans Newsletter! Search Close GO Internet, Networking, & Security > Home Networking 27 27 people found this article helpful
Computer Networking Tutorial - Internet Protocol
By Bradley Mitchell Bradley Mitchell Writer Massachusetts Institute of Technology University of Illinois An MIT graduate who brings years of technical experience to articles on SEO, computers, and wireless networking. lifewire's editorial guidelines Updated on December 3, 2019 Tweet Share Email BlackJack3D / Getty Images Tweet Share Email Home Networking The Wireless Connection Routers & Firewalls Network Hubs ISP Broadband Ethernet Installing & Upgrading Wi-Fi & Wireless Below is the lesson plan for an online Internet Protocol (IP) tutorial. Each lesson contains articles and other references that explain the basics of IP networking. It's best to complete these lessons in the order listed, but the concepts of IP networking be learned in other progressions as well. Those involved in home networking have different needs than someone working on a business network, for example. IP Address Notation
Command Prompt - Ping - Responsive IP Address. IP addresses have certain rules for how they are constructed and written. Learn to recognize what IP addresses look like and how to find your IP address on different kinds of devices. Vocabulary: bits, bytes, octet The IP Address Space
The numeric values of IP addresses fall into certain ranges. Some number ranges are restricted in how they can be used. Due to these restrictions, the process of IP address assignment becomes extremely important to get right. See the difference between private IP addresses and public IP addresses. Vocabulary: APIPA, IPv6, LAN Extra credit: What is peer-to-peer networking? Static and Dynamic IP Addressing
A device can get its IP address automatically from another device on the network, or it can sometimes be set up with its own fixed (hardcoded) number. Learn about DHCP and how to release and renew assigned IP addresses. Vocabulary: ISP, intranet Extra credit: Using static IP addresses on private networks IP Subnetting
Another restriction on how IP address ranges can be used comes from the concept of subnetting. You'll rarely find subnets of home networks, but they are a good way to keep large numbers of devices communicating efficiently. Learn what a subnet is and how to manage IP subnets. Vocabulary: CIDR, router Extra credit: What is the IP address of a router? Network Naming and Internet Protocol
The Internet would be extremely difficult to use if sites all had to be browsed by their IP addresses. Discover how the Internet manages its huge collection of domains through a Domain Name System (DNS) and how some business networks use a related technology called Windows Internet Naming Service (WINS). Vocabulary: DDNS, ICMP Extra credit: Why are there only DNS root name servers? Hardware Addresses and Internet Protocol
Besides its IP address, every device on an IP network also possesses a physical address (sometimes called a hardware address). These addresses are closely linked to one specific device, unlike IP addresses that can be reassigned to different devices on a network. This lesson covers Media Access Control and all about MAC addressing. Vocabulary: ARP, NAT, ipconfig Extra credit: Can you get a MAC address from an IP address? TCP IP and Related Protocols
Many other network protocols run on top of IP. Two of them are especially important. Besides Internet Protocol itself, this is a good time to get a solid understanding of TCP and its cousin UDP. Vocabulary: HTTP, VoIP Extra credit: TCP headers and UDP headers explained Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day Subscribe Tell us why! Other Not enough details Hard to understand Submit More from Lifewire What Is an IP Address? Private IP Addresses: Everything You Need to Know How to Use an IP Address to Find a MAC Address How to Look up an IP Address Owner 4 Ways to Find Your Roku IP Address (With or Without the Remote) DNS Servers: What Are They and Why Are They Used? How to Change DNS Servers in Windows How to Find the Default IP Address of a Belkin Router What Is a Public IP Address? (and How to Find Yours) IP Tutorial: Subnet Mask and Subnetting 255.255.255.0 Subnet Mask for IP Networks How to Fix It When There's No Internet Connection Why There Are Only 13 DNS Root Name Servers How to Set Up Port Forwarding How to Change Your IP Address Can MAC Addresses Be Converted to IP Addresses? Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Cookies Settings Accept All Cookies