In any network, Internet Protocol (IP) addressing is needed to ensure that data is sent to the correct recipient or device. Imagine you're writing a letter (data) to a friend. When you've finished writing, you decide to enclose it in an envelope (encapsulation) with your friend's mailing address (addressing information). This is the typical procedure for sending a letter before dropping it off at the local postal office (network). Most importantly, the addressing information you've written on the envelope must be put into a particular format to ensure that the postal service company (network devices) are able to deliver it to the appropriate destination.
On a TCP/IP network, the process is similar. Each device on a network has a unique IP address (compared to a mailing address). In this chapter, we will be covering the following...