Explain how IP addresses would be assigned to devices within the network. If other networks are present, explain how information will get to other devices, and describe the network.
IP addresses are assigned to devices within a network using a couple of common methods: Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) or manually configuring them.
In the case of DHCP, a server (usually provided by the network router or a dedicated DHCP server) is responsible for assigning IP addresses to devices automatically. When a device connects to the network, it sends a DHCP request, and the server responds with an available IP address from a predefined pool. This IP address is then temporarily leased to the device for a specific duration (lease time) before it is returned to the pool for reassignment later.
Alternatively, IP addresses can be assigned manually, which involves setting a unique IP address, subnet mask, default gateway, and other network settings directly on each device. Manual IP addressing is often used in scenarios where the network administrator needs more control over the IP assignments or if there is no DHCP server available.
When other networks are present, information needs to traverse through routers to reach devices on those networks. Routers are networking devices that facilitate the interconnection of different networks. They maintain routing tables, which contain information about the available paths to different networks, and use protocols like Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) to exchange routing information with other routers.
When a device wants to send data to another device on a different network, it first checks its own network configuration to see if the destination IP address is within the local network. If it is, the device sends the data directly to the destination. However, if the destination IP address is outside the local network, the device forwards the data to the default gateway (usually the IP address of the router). The router then examines the destination IP address, looks it up in its routing table, and determines the best path to reach the destination network. The router forwards the data to the next hop router, which repeats the process until the data finally reaches the destination network and device.
This interconnected system of routers communicating with each other forms the Internet, which is a collection of networks. The Internet is essentially a vast network of networks, wherein routers ensure that information can flow between devices in different networks across the globe.