IP Address Classes

The communication between two devices over a particular medium wired/wireless is called networking. To communicate in a wired network every system must and should have a valid IP address. IP address in an identification tag or key for a system. IP address looks like 192.168.10.21. Based on these IP address, they can be classified into five types; Class A, Class B,Class C, Class D and Class E. 

Each IP address can be divided into four octettes, IP address can be written as Octet1.Octet2.Octet3.Octet4. Here Octet 1 represents network class type. 

 Class A Network:

Class-A address are used for networks with very higher number of systems. Range for Octet-1 value of Class-A network is 1-126. Default subnet mask for Class-A type is 255.0.0.0. Number of possible network ID's are 126.

127 is excluded from Class-A, Ranges 127.X.X.X are reserved for the loopback or localhost, example 127.0.0.1 is the common local host address. 

 Class B Network:

Class-B addresses are used for medium-sized to large-sized networks. Range for Octet-1 value of Class-B network is 128-191. Default subnet mask for Class-B type is 255.255.0.0. Number of possible network ID's are 16,384.

 Class C Network:

Class-C address are used for smaller networks, like university campus. Range for Octet-1 value of Class-C network is 192-223. Default subnet mask for Class-A type is 255.255.255.0. Number of possible network ID's are 20,97,152.

 Class D Network:

Class-D network addresses are reserved for multicast purpose. Range for Octet-1 value of Class-D network is 224-239.

 Class E Network:

Class-E network addresses are reserved for Future purpose. Range for Octet-1 value of Class-E network is 240-255.

Range 255.255.255.255 broadcasts to all hosts on the local network.

Written By:
SANDY -- (Jarvishelp Member)

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