IP (Internet Protocol) address is a unique string of numbers that identifies a computer on the Internet. These numbers are usually shown in groups separated by periods, like this: 123.123.23.2. All resources on the Internet must have an IP address - or else they’re not on the Internet at all.

The IP Address that you make known to others on the Internet is called your Public IP Address. At present there are four major areas of address allocation: Europe, North America, Pacific Rim, and South & Central America. The top level block allocation (just a guideline and will continue to change) be designated as follows:

192.0.0.0 - 193.255.255.255 Multi-regional
194.0.0.0 - 195.255.255.255 Europe
196.0.0.0 - 197.255.255.255 Others
198.0.0.0 - 199.255.255.255 North America
200.0.0.0 - 201.255.255.255 Central/South America
202.0.0.0 - 203.255.255.255 Pacific Rim
204.0.0.0 - 207.255.255.255 Others

The IP Address that you use internally within your office, home or enterprise network, which is NOT made known to others on the Internet, is called your Private IP Address. In this case you would have both a Public and a Private IP address, and in most instances you would be sharing your Public IP Address with others on your internal network, but your Private IP Address would be unique within your network. Private IP Addresses must be in one of 3 allowed ranges: 10.0.0.0 - 10.255.255.255, 172.16.0.0 - 172.31.255.255 or 192.168.0.0 - 192.168.255.255.

Updated On: 12.07.04