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10 Network Addresses

To exchange information between computer devices, these devices need addresses
through which messages can be routed. There are several points to consider when
choosing appropriate addresses for computer networks:
• What is the appropriate format for network addresses?
• Who is responsible for determining device addresses, and is it done manually or

automatically?
• How is the recipient's address determined in large networks, such as the Internet?

10.1The shape of Computer Network Addresses

There are several types of device addresses that vary based on their use. For example,
in Ethernet local networks, the MAC address is used, consisting of 12 characters with
a dot between every two characters. On the Internet, the IP address is used.
Regardless of the address type, each device on the network must have a unique
address that is not used by others.
Indeed, when you connect to the Internet, you use a unique IP address that no one
else in the world uses (although it can change from time to time).

10.2IP Address

The logical address, IP address, is a digital address assigned to each device connected
to the network, either manually (a fixed address for each device) or by a dedicated
server called the DHCP server. This address allows the computer to communicate
with other devices, much like a phone number that allows you to receive phone calls.
An IP address consists of four sections (named Octets), each containing numbers
ranging from 0 to 255. Internally, within the computer, the IP address is represented
in binary (0 and 1), with each section consisting of one byte, equal to 8 bits.

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