That’s where IP allocation and management come into the picture, which can be overseen by IP tracker software. While each device’s unique IP address allows it to be distinguished from every other device on a network, there can be hundreds-if not thousands-of devices connected to a given network, making it difficult to manually organize and sort through all the IP addresses. These days, IP addresses are an integral part of every device’s configuration and design. IPv6 raises the ceiling from 232 combinations to 2128, essentially removing this concern. However, considering IPv4’s 32-bit structure allows 232 possible combinations-or about 4.3 billion unique addresses-many were concerned by the possibility of running out of usable IP addresses. The vast majority of networks were private and separate, meaning different devices on different networks could have the same IP address without causing any issues.Īs the internet became increasingly popular and more connected, it made sense to have a universal standard for networked communications. The history here is when IPv4 protocol was first implemented, the internet-and our everyday reliance upon it-was far, far smaller than it is today. The difference between the two is IPv4 uses 32 binary bits to distinguish each unique address-resulting in a base-10 address expressed as four numbers separated by periods, such as 111.22.33.444. All networked machines have an IPv4 address, and many are now using the updated IPv6, as well. There are two different kinds of IP address: IPv4 and IPv6. Within this system, the unique identifier assigned to each given computer is known as its IP address. The vast majority of networks today use transmission control protocol/internet protocol (TCP/IP) to manage how computers connect to and communicate over networks. With a large number of devices on a dynamic network, tracking these many addresses accurately can be a struggle.

Just how every building and property has a unique address to locate, reach, or contact it, every device connected to a network has a unique identifier for similar purposes. The houses, apartments, and businesses are akin to nodes, and the roads and sidewalks are the routes people-or data, in this analogy-use to move from place to place. Why is tracking IP addresses a challenge? Imagine a network environment is like a neighborhood. Which IP Address Tracking Tool Should I Choose? What Are the Types of IP Address Trackers?

If you’re looking for an enterprise-level tool for tracking IP addresses, I suggest starting with SolarWinds ® IP Address Manager. As I’ll explain below, this task is best handled by an automated tool, because keeping tabs on IP addresses can be time-consuming and confusing. Admins need to be able to handle and track IP addresses across their network.

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