Module 9: IPv4 and Network Segmentation Flashcards
Explain how IPv4 addresses are used in network communication and segmentation.
9.1.1 Video - IPv4 Unicast
Unicast IP Transmission
Unicast IP transmission refers to one-to-one communication between network devices, where a packet is sent from a single source to a single destination.
Example of Unicast Transmission
- Source IP Address: 172.16.4.1
(a device sending the packet)
- Destination IP Address: 172.16.4.253
(a printer receiving the packet)
- The packet travels directly from one device to another, ensuring it is received only by the intended recipient.
Key Points About Unicast
1. Unicast packets have a specific destination IP address (not broadcast/multicast).
2. The source IP address is always unicast – a packet can only originate from a single device.
3. Unicast ensures direct device-to-device communication, commonly used for standard network traffic such as web browsing, file transfers, and remote desktop connections.
This method is different from broadcast (one-to-all) and multicast (one-to-many) transmissions, where packets are sent to multiple devices instead of a single destination.
Noted
___ transmission refers to one device sending a message to one other device in one-to-one communications.
Unicast
A unicast packet has a destination IP address that is a unicast address which goes to a ___ recipient.
single
A source IP address can only be a ___ address, because the packet can only originate from a single source. This is regardless of whether the destination IP address is a unicast, broadcast, or multicast.
unicast
The subnet mask for 255.255.255.0 is represented using slash notion or /24, indicating that the subnet mask is 24 ___ long.
bits
The subnet mask 255.255.255.0 in binary is 11111111.11111111.11111111.00000000.
9.1.3 Video - IPv4 Broadcast
Broadcast Transmissions
A broadcast transmission is a type of network communication where a packet is sent from one device to all devices on the same network. This is achieved using a special broadcast IP address.
Example of a Broadcast Transmission
- Source IPv4 Address: 172.16.4.1
(the device sending the packet)
- Destination IPv4 Address: 255.255.255.255
(the broadcast address)
This special address ensures that the packet is received by all devices on the local network.
How Broadcast Works in a Network
1. The packet originates from 172.16.4.1
.
2. The Ethernet switch floods the broadcast packet out to all ports except the source port.
3. Every device on the network receives the broadcast packet.
4. Routers do not forward broadcast packets to other networks, ensuring they remain within the local network.
Key Points About Broadcasts
- A broadcast packet is received by all devices in the network.
- Switches flood broadcast frames to all ports except the one it was received on.
- Routers block broadcast traffic to prevent it from spreading to other networks.
- Broadcasts are used for network discovery protocols, ARP requests, and DHCP requests.
Conclusion
Broadcast transmissions are essential for certain network operations, but excessive broadcasts can cause network congestion. That’s why modern networks often use multicast and unicast transmissions instead.
Noted
___ transmission refers to a device sending a message to all the devices on a network in one-to-all communications.
Broadcast
A broadcast packet has a destination IP address with all ___ in the host portion, or ___ bits.
ones (1s), 32 one (1)
IPv4 uses ___. However, there are none of these on IPv6.
broadcast packets
A broadcast packet must be processed by ___ devices in the ___ broadcast domain.
all, same
A ___ identifies all hosts on the same network segment.
broadcast domain
A broadcast may be ___ or ___.
directed, limited
A ___ broadcast is sent to all hosts on a specific network.
directed
For example, a host on the 172.16.4.0/24 network sends a packet to 172.16.4.255.
A ___ broadcast is sent to 255.255.255.255.
limited
By default, routers do not forward broadcasts.
Broadcast packets use resources on the network and make every receiving host on the network process the packet. Therefore, broadcast traffic should be ___ so that it does not adversely affect the performance of the network or devices.
limited
Because routers separate broadcast domains, subdividing networks can improve network performance by eliminating excessive broadcast traffic.
9.1.5 Video - IPv4 Multicast
Multicast Transmission
A multicast transmission is used to send a packet from a single device to a specific group of devices that are part of a multicast group. This is more efficient than broadcasting, as it prevents unnecessary delivery to devices that do not need the packet.
IPv4 Multicast Address Range
- Multicast addresses fall within the range:
224.0.0.0
to 239.255.255.255
- These addresses are reserved for multicast traffic, allowing selected devices to receive packets without flooding the entire network.
Example of Multicast Transmission
- Source IPv4 Address: 172.16.4.1
(the device sending the multicast packet)
- Destination IPv4 Multicast Group: Devices 172.16.4.3
and 172.16.4.4
How Multicast Works in a Network
1. The packet leaves 172.16.4.1
and is sent across the network.
2. Multiple devices receive the packet, but only those that belong to the multicast group (4.3 and 4.4) will process it.
3. Devices that are not part of the multicast group ignore the packet, preventing unnecessary network traffic.
Key Points About Multicast
- Multicast is more efficient than broadcast since it only reaches intended recipients.
- Devices must “subscribe” to a multicast group to receive the transmission.
- Used for applications like streaming, online gaming, and video conferencing where multiple devices need the same data.
- Routers can be configured to forward multicast traffic across networks using IGMP (Internet Group Management Protocol).
Conclusion
Multicast transmission optimizes network efficiency by targeting only specific devices in a group, reducing unnecessary traffic compared to broadcasting.
Noted
___ transmission reduces traffic by allowing a host to send a single packet to a selected set of hosts that subscribe to a multicast group.
Multicast
A multicast packet is a packet with a destination IP address that is a multicast address. IPv4 has reserved the ___ to ___ addresses as a multicast range.
224.0.0.0,
239.255.255.255
Hosts that receive particular multicast packets are called ___.
multicast clients
The multicast clients use services requested by a client program to subscribe to the multicast group.
Each multicast group is represented by a single IPv4 multicast ___. When an IPv4 host subscribes to a multicast group, the host processes packets addressed to this multicast address, and packets addressed to its uniquely allocated unicast address.
destination address
Routing protocols such as ___ use multicast transmissions.
OSPF
For example, routers enabled with OSPF communicate with each other using the reserved OSPF multicast address 224.0.0.5. Only devices enabled with OSPF will process these packets with 224.0.0.5 as the destination IPv4 address. All other devices will ignore these packets.
9.2.1 Public and Private IPv4 Addresses
Just as there are different ways to transmit an IPv4 packet, there are also different types of IPv4 addresses. Some IPv4 addresses cannot be used to go out to the internet, and others are specifically allocated for routing to the internet. Some are used to verify a connection and others are self-assigned. As a network administrator, you will eventually become very familiar with the types of IPv4 addresses, but for now, you should at least know what they are and when to use them.
Public IPv4 addresses are addresses which are globally routed between internet service provider (ISP) routers. However, not all available IPv4 addresses can be used on the internet. There are blocks of addresses called private addresses that are used by most organizations to assign IPv4 addresses to internal hosts.
In the mid-1990s, with the introduction of the World Wide Web (WWW), private IPv4 addresses were introduced because of the depletion of IPv4 address space. Private IPv4 addresses are not unique and can be used internally within any network.
Note: The long-term solution to IPv4 address depletion was IPv6.
Noted
___ are addresses which are globally routed between internet service provider (ISP) routers.
Public IPv4 addresses
However, not all available IPv4 addresses can be used on the internet.
Not all available IPv4 addresses can be used on the internet. There are blocks of addresses called ___ that are used by most organizations to assign IPv4 addresses to internal hosts.
private addresses