Write a summary explaining why the IP address and subnet mask enable computers t

ID: 3664228 • Letter: W

Question

Write a summary explaining why the IP address and subnet mask enable computers to communicate with each other on that network.

Briefly explain how you know that the host computer was placed on the correct subnet.

Discuss the relationship between IP addressing, DNS and DHCP.

Describe briefly the different types of network messages.

Provide relevant research to support your statements.

Submit your individual work in a Word document approximately 1-3 pages in length to the Small Group submission area.

Explanation / Answer

For a computer to communicate with another computer it needs an IP address, and it must be unique. If there is another computer on the same network with the same IP there will be an IP address conflict and both computers will lose network capability until this is resolved.

The IP address consists of 4 numbers separated by decimals. The IP address itself is separated into a network address and a host address. This means that one part of the IP address identifies the computer network ID and the other part identifies the host ID.
As an example, an IP address of 192.168.0.45 is known as a class C address (more on classes later). A class C networks uses the first 3 numbers to identify the network and the last number to identify the host. So, the network id would be 192.168.0 and the host id would be 45. Computers can only communicate with other computers on the same network id. In other words networking will work between 2 computers with IPs 192.168.0.231 and 192.168.0.45 respectively but neither can communicate with 192.168.1.231 because it is part of the 192.168.1 network.

DHCP

DHCP provides an automated way to distribute and update IP addresses and other configuration information on a network. A DHCP server provides this information to a DHCP client through the exchange of a series of messages, known as the DHCP conversation or the DHCP transaction. If the DHCP server and DHCP clients are located on different subnets, a DHCP relay agent is used to facilitate the conversation.

Type

Description ICMP Message Types

Echo Reply (Ping Reply, used with Type 8, Ping Request)

Destination Unreachable

Source Quench

Redirect

Echo Request (Ping Request, used with Type 0, Ping Reply)

Router Advertisement (Used with Type 9)

Router Solicitation (Used with Type 10)

Time Exceeded

Parameter Problem

Timestamp Request (Used with Type 14)

Timestamp Reply (Used with Type 13)

Information Request (obsolete) (Used with Type 16)

Information Reply (obsolete) (Used with Type 15)

Address Mask Request (Used with Type 17)

Address Mask Reply (Used with Type 18)