What's an IP address?

Lizard · 07-22-2003, 02:37 PM

Reading through an old forum (somewhere beyond this one which is 13) I came across someone saying "looks like he doesn't know what an IP address is".

Since I don't know what it is either I thought I should ask.

Szczepankiewicz · 07-22-2003, 02:40 PM

The Internet Protocol address.

Go to the web page www.whatismyip.com and tell me what it says...

Lizard · 07-22-2003, 02:43 PM

Thanks alot. haha it's my knowledge know. I stole your teachings....

Only joking, I am truly grateful that you have shared this valuble information with me.

Szczepankiewicz · 07-22-2003, 02:44 PM

Well, what's it say?

Lizard · 07-22-2003, 02:44 PM

But what does it do? How do THEY use it to get me?

Lizard · 07-22-2003, 02:45 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Szczepankiewicz
Well, what's it say?

It says 748.883.554.398

Szczepankiewicz · 07-22-2003, 02:46 PM

unlikely...

Lizard · 07-22-2003, 02:47 PM

I should have used two numbers for the last group. But I didn't trust you. Wise though you are.

sk12879 · 07-22-2003, 04:48 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Lizard
But what does it do? How do THEY use it to get me?

Each computer connected to the Internet has an IP Address...it is basically the identifier of your computer on the network. It can get more difficult when discussing subdomains....for instance, every computer at my work broadcasts the same IP after going through our firewalls. But basically, your IP is the path to your computer in the same way that your street address can identify your house.

terry · 07-23-2003, 12:43 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Lizard
It says 748.883.554.398

Chapter and Verse: An IP-Addresses is a 32-bit integer, generally expressed in a format of four octet integers separated by periods. In the octet-integer format the value of each octet can range between 0 and 255.

The Internet Engineering Task Force (http://www.ietf.org) has the responsibility to maintain and update standards related to the Internet Protocol. Perhaps a good place to start is Assigned Numbers: RFC-943:

http://www.ietf.org/rfc/rfc0943.txt?number=943

Once you understand that then you can browse that site for as much information as you need. Also of note in such a discussion is the original proposal for Internet Subnetting and subnet masks:

0950 Internet Standard Subnetting Procedure. J.C. Mogul, J. Postel. Aug-01-1985.

Finally, you may want to check out the latest and most commonly used method for carving up IP-Addresses: Classless Inter-Domain Routing:

1518 An Architecture for IP Address Allocation with CIDR. Y. Rekhter, T. Li. September 1993.

1519 Classless Inter-Domain Routing (CIDR): an Address Assignment and Aggregation Strategy. V. Fuller, T. Li, J. Yu, K. Varadhan. September 1993.

Terry

P.S.: If you think this is too geeky, stop and consider for a second that Tony Li and Yakov Rekhter are both have 9 figure net worths.

Lizard · 07-23-2003, 06:14 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by sk12879

Each computer connected to the Internet has an IP Address...it is basically the identifier of your computer on the network. It can get more difficult when discussing subdomains....for instance, every computer at my work broadcasts the same IP after going through our firewalls. But basically, your IP is the path to your computer in the same way that your street address can identify your house.

So every computer has an IP address which is the path to that computer. So if I got banned from a forum they could ban my IP address? Then no one could use this computer to register?

terry · 07-23-2003, 09:27 AM

An IP-Address is not a path-vector. Think of this in terms of snail mail delivery: An IP-Address is like your street address. The path your mailman takes to deliver the mail is not of concern to anybody but the postal service--and then it is done for efficiency.

When you start talking about path vectors in service provider networks you get into routing policy, MPLS and routing protocols such as BGP. Um, that's a whole different kettle of fish.

Re: The mechanics of getting banned. It works differently based on the configuration. Banning your IP address would be a firewall change rather than a application layer (aka web, E-mail address) change. But since many users have IP-Addresses assigned out of pools held by ISPs (Internet Service Providers) then IP-Address is no longer a constant from day to day. I suppose you could ban a whole subnet or range of addresses.

There are a range of countermeasures. It really depends on the situation. If there is a criminal intent involved, such as pedophelia, we can work with the ISP to trace it through such things as RADIUS accounting records, SMTP headers, etc. In one case a while ago I called the FBI after getting very polite but ultimately suspicious inquiries from a Pakistani-based sports organization that seemed a little to eager to learn FMA and MT (and couldn't explain why their cover story kept changing). In that case, you continue the conversation and don't let the other party know that someone is tracing them. When you start doing national security work it gets even more involved.

There are a few very sophisticated people out there who have enough knowledge of Internetworking systems to evade the obvious traps and make life difficult for a security guy. Stalking the wily hacker can be a challenging game.

So, that's what could happen. As far as you getting banned, you conduct doesn't warrant someone taking that kind of interest in you. The more likely scenario may be that, faced with such a high level of troll traffic on defend.net, the moderators may despair and either resign or just check out. Then you have to deal with new moderators who may be even worse than me.

Szczepankiewicz · 07-23-2003, 10:19 AM

Man, check out the big brain on terry!

Lizard · 07-24-2003, 08:57 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Szczepankiewicz
Man, check out the big brain on terry!

I hear he has an inhuman ability for bicep curls too.

07-22-2003, 02:37 PM	#1 (permalink)
Lizard Registered User Join Date: May 2003 Posts: 985 Groans: 0 Groaned at 0 Times in 0 Posts	What's an IP address? Reading through an old forum (somewhere beyond this one which is 13) I came across someone saying "looks like he doesn't know what an IP address is". Since I don't know what it is either I thought I should ask. __________________ Enemies Strengthen, Allies weaken.

07-22-2003, 02:43 PM	#3 (permalink)
Lizard Registered User Join Date: May 2003 Posts: 985 Groans: 0 Groaned at 0 Times in 0 Posts	Thanks alot. haha it's my knowledge know. I stole your teachings.... Only joking, I am truly grateful that you have shared this valuble information with me. __________________ Enemies Strengthen, Allies weaken.

07-22-2003, 02:44 PM	#5 (permalink)
Lizard Registered User Join Date: May 2003 Posts: 985 Groans: 0 Groaned at 0 Times in 0 Posts	But what does it do? How do THEY use it to get me? __________________ Enemies Strengthen, Allies weaken.

07-22-2003, 02:47 PM	#8 (permalink)
Lizard Registered User Join Date: May 2003 Posts: 985 Groans: 0 Groaned at 0 Times in 0 Posts	I should have used two numbers for the last group. But I didn't trust you. Wise though you are. __________________ Enemies Strengthen, Allies weaken.

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes	Rate This Thread
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode	Rate This Thread:

07-22-2003, 02:40 PM	#2 (permalink)
Szczepankiewicz Registered User Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Meridian, ID, USA Posts: 4,109 Groans: 0 Groaned at 0 Times in 0 Posts	The Internet Protocol address. Go to the web page www.whatismyip.com and tell me what it says...

07-22-2003, 02:44 PM	#4 (permalink)
Szczepankiewicz Registered User Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Meridian, ID, USA Posts: 4,109 Groans: 0 Groaned at 0 Times in 0 Posts	Well, what's it say?

07-22-2003, 02:46 PM	#7 (permalink)
Szczepankiewicz Registered User Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Meridian, ID, USA Posts: 4,109 Groans: 0 Groaned at 0 Times in 0 Posts	unlikely...

07-23-2003, 09:27 AM	#12 (permalink)
terry Moderator Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Pacifica, CA USA Posts: 571 Groans: 0 Groaned at 0 Times in 0 Posts	An IP-Address is not a path-vector. Think of this in terms of snail mail delivery: An IP-Address is like your street address. The path your mailman takes to deliver the mail is not of concern to anybody but the postal service--and then it is done for efficiency. When you start talking about path vectors in service provider networks you get into routing policy, MPLS and routing protocols such as BGP. Um, that's a whole different kettle of fish. Re: The mechanics of getting banned. It works differently based on the configuration. Banning your IP address would be a firewall change rather than a application layer (aka web, E-mail address) change. But since many users have IP-Addresses assigned out of pools held by ISPs (Internet Service Providers) then IP-Address is no longer a constant from day to day. I suppose you could ban a whole subnet or range of addresses. There are a range of countermeasures. It really depends on the situation. If there is a criminal intent involved, such as pedophelia, we can work with the ISP to trace it through such things as RADIUS accounting records, SMTP headers, etc. In one case a while ago I called the FBI after getting very polite but ultimately suspicious inquiries from a Pakistani-based sports organization that seemed a little to eager to learn FMA and MT (and couldn't explain why their cover story kept changing). In that case, you continue the conversation and don't let the other party know that someone is tracing them. When you start doing national security work it gets even more involved. There are a few very sophisticated people out there who have enough knowledge of Internetworking systems to evade the obvious traps and make life difficult for a security guy. Stalking the wily hacker can be a challenging game. So, that's what could happen. As far as you getting banned, you conduct doesn't warrant someone taking that kind of interest in you. The more likely scenario may be that, faced with such a high level of troll traffic on defend.net, the moderators may despair and either resign or just check out. Then you have to deal with new moderators who may be even worse than me.

07-23-2003, 10:19 AM	#13 (permalink)
Szczepankiewicz Registered User Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Meridian, ID, USA Posts: 4,109 Groans: 0 Groaned at 0 Times in 0 Posts	Man, check out the big brain on terry!

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)