we ran OUT of IP Addresses!!

Summary

This video explains the limitations and mismanagement of IP addresses, highlighting the 4.3 billion available addresses and the issues that arose as the internet grew. The creators of the internet didn't foresee the massive demand for IPs due to the rapid expansion of devices, including IoT. The video breaks down the various classes of IP addresses (A, B, C, D, E) and discusses how the assignment of addresses, particularly the large allocations, led to inefficient use. The creator also touches on the concept of subnetting, IP address mismanagement, and the eventual need for IPv6.

Takeaways

• 😀 There are approximately 4.3 billion possible IP addresses, but we have run out of them, causing a significant issue for internet connectivity.
• 😀 The internet was designed in 1983 with a limited supply of 4.3 billion IP addresses, which seemed sufficient at the time.
• 😀 The inventors of the internet did not anticipate the rapid growth of the internet and the many devices requiring IP addresses, leading to a mismanagement of the available address space.
• 😀 Initially, IP addresses were organized into classes (A, B, C, D, E), but this system had significant flaws that contributed to the depletion of available addresses.
• 😀 Class A networks provided an excessive number of IP addresses (over 16 million) per network, but only 126 total Class A networks were available.
• 😀 Class B and C networks offered smaller numbers of addresses per network, but the allocation system still resulted in inefficient use of available IPs.
• 😀 Many IP addresses were allocated to large companies and government entities without considering the long-term demand, leading to significant waste.
• 😀 Subnet masks were used to determine the size of a network, but the allocation of large blocks of IP addresses led to inefficiency, especially with Class A networks.
• 😀 Class D and E addresses are reserved for multicast and experimental use, respectively, and are not available for general internet use.
• 😀 The IP address range 127.x.x.x is reserved for loopback addresses used for network testing, but a whole range of 16 million addresses is wasted for this purpose.
• 😀 Despite the IP address shortage, solutions such as IPv6 and subnetting have been introduced to mitigate the issue and continue to support the internet's growth.

Q & A

What is the primary issue discussed in the video?

The primary issue discussed is the exhaustion of available IPv4 addresses, which was not anticipated by the inventors of the internet.

Why did the inventors of the internet underestimate the need for IP addresses?

The inventors did not anticipate the rapid growth of the internet and the expansion of devices that would require IP addresses, such as watches, microwaves, and even toilets.

What is the total number of possible IPv4 addresses, and how was this number calculated?

There are roughly 4.3 billion possible IPv4 addresses, which equals 2^32 (4,294,967,296) addresses.

How did the mismanagement of IP addresses occur?

IP addresses were grouped into classes (A, B, C, D, E), with large chunks allocated to companies that didn't need them, resulting in an inefficient distribution of the available address space.

What is a subnet mask and why is it important in networking?

A subnet mask determines how much of an IP address represents the network versus the host. It plays a key role in defining the size of a network and how many IP addresses are available within it.

What is a Class A IP address, and why is it problematic?

Class A IP addresses allow for over 16 million addresses in a network, which was excessive for most users. This resulted in the underutilization of a significant portion of the available IP addresses.

What is the issue with the allocation of Class A networks?

Class A networks were assigned to large companies and organizations without considering the long-term implications, leaving only 126 Class A networks available and wasting a massive number of addresses.

What is the difference between Class A, B, and C networks in terms of address allocation?

Class A networks are very host-heavy with 16 million addresses per network, Class B has around 65,534 addresses per network, and Class C networks are smaller with only 254 addresses per network.

What are multicast addresses and which class do they belong to?

Multicast addresses, which are part of Class D, are reserved for communication with multiple devices simultaneously. They are essential for networking but are not available for general use.

Why are the IP addresses in the range 127.x.x.x reserved and not usable in general networks?

The 127.x.x.x range is reserved for loopback addresses, which are used to test network connectivity on the local device. These addresses allow a computer to communicate with itself.