IP addresses are not the property of an exclusive device, but are assigned to computers, routers , mobile phones, tablets or printers.Also web pages always have an associated IP., when we want to inform ourselves and write in the browser «nobbot.com» or «orange.es», in reality what the browser does is translate that text to an IP address that these sites have associated.This way we can access the content.
How can I see my address
The IP address is actually a kind of code with four numbers that can reach three digits each, and are separated by periods.Each number can go from 0 to 255.The form of a real IP would be this : 218.136.134.12.That information can be known instantly by consulting one of the many pages that report this data, such as qualiip.com or vermiip.es.In these sites you can also see if there is a proxy that hides your real IP and filters your connection while browsing the internet.
Although it might seem that the allocation of numbers from an IP address is very random, it is not really so.Within the possible combinations, there are ranges that are reserved for large international companies, others are intended for medium-sized networks, such as those of the universities, and finally others that serve to identify connections in small and domestic networks.
On the other hand, there are dynamic and static IPs, but the usual thing if we surf the internet is that we have a dynamic address that changes without us knowing.This is because the operators and service providers that give us connection have assigned packages of IP addresses and move them to keep them always running and thus get more out of them.
public and private
There are also two types of IP depending on the type of network to which we connect: public and private.Public is the one assigned by your operator and serves to identify your connection on the Internet at any given time.We have said, it is usually dynamic and is changing without us noticing anything.To see it, you only have to access pages such as mymi.com.
On the other hand, the private one is the one used in more limited networks, such as the office or home Wi-Fi.There, each device has its own fixed IP.To know our private IP in Windows 10 , for example, you have to go to the Configuration> Network and Internet> Status> See network properties. To see the private IP on a mobile with Android, just go to Settings> About the phone> Status> IP adress.
Knowing an IP is very useful.Among other things, it allows you to control a computer remotely or use virtual private network or VPN services.It also facilitates the identification of connection or network problems.And it offers data from servers that we use to connect.In the same way as telephone numbers, each public IP can be geolocated, since it is assigned a country, region and even city, in addition to the name of the operator that offers it.
Difference between MAC and IP
Finally, it is not convenient to confuse an IP address with a MAC or Media Access Control.The work of both is identifiable, but each has a scope.In essence, the MAC is an alphanumeric identifier that each manufacturer assigns to the network card of the connection device.It has this shape: 00: 1e: c2: 9e: 28: 6b.
MACs are very useful for computer departments of companies that, thanks to them, can allow or deny access to a certain network to a PC, mobile phone or printer.To check the MAC of our computer (with Windows 10), we will also have to go to Configuration> Network and Internet> Status> See network properties. For its part, the MAC on an Android phone is visible in the same section as the private IP address.
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