TCP/IP Network Addresses

IP originally defined network addresses as 32-bit binary addresses generally represented as 3 digit decimal numbers separated by periods. Since each section or octet of the address represents an 8 bit byte, the highest number that can be placed in the octet is 255 (28 – 1).

But not all 32-bit IP addresses are available. Five different types of networks were reserved in the original scheme, referred to as Class A,B,C,D and E networks. These network classes are as listed in Table 17-2.

Table 17-2. Reserved Network Types
ClassRangeMax. Networks in ClassMax. Hosts
A0.0.0.0 to 127.255.255.255126over 16 million
B128.0.0.0 to 191.255.255.2551638465534
C192.0.0.0 to 223.255.255.2552097152254
D224.0.0.0 to 239.255.255.255<for multi-cast> ...

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