Advanced Networking 03.1 | IP Addressing in IPv4 and IPv6 | 2026

In this session, we explore the fundamentals of IP addressing, where an IP address acts as a unique identifier that enables communication between devices across networks. You will understand key properties such as uniqueness, hierarchical structure (network & host parts), and routability. Link for study material and example : https://drive.google.com/drive/folder... The lecture also covers different addressing categories, including public vs private IP addresses, static vs dynamic allocation, and the role of Network Address Translation (NAT) in allowing multiple devices to share a single public IP. 🔹 IPv4 Addressing We dive into the structure of IPv4, a 32-bit addressing system represented using four decimal octets. You will learn about: ✔ IPv4 Classes (A, B, C, D, E) ✔ Default subnet masks and address ranges ✔ Special-purpose classes (Multicast, Experimental) ✔ Limitations of IPv4 and address exhaustion 🔹 Subnetting and CIDR The lecture explains how subnetting improves network efficiency by dividing large networks into smaller segments. You will also learn CIDR notation (e.g., /24), which reduces IP wastage and supports flexible network design. Practical examples demonstrate subnetting for different departments across multiple locations. 🔹 IPv6 Addressing To overcome IPv4 limitations, IPv6 is introduced with a 128-bit address space, offering an enormous number of unique addresses. Topics include: ✔ IPv6 address structure (hexadecimal format) ✔ Address types: Unicast, Anycast, Multicast ✔ IPv6 abbreviation rules (zero compression) ✔ Elimination of broadcast in IPv6 🔹 IPv6 Transition Mechanisms We discuss how networks migrate from IPv4 to IPv6 using: ✔ Dual Stack ✔ Tunneling ✔ NAT64 🔹 IPv4 vs IPv6 Comparison A detailed comparison highlights key differences such as: ✔ Address size and format ✔ Header structure (fixed vs variable) ✔ Security (built-in IPsec in IPv6) ✔ Address configuration methods 🎯 Key Learning Objectives: ✔ Understand IP addressing fundamentals ✔ Differentiate public vs private and static vs dynamic IPs ✔ Learn IPv4 structure and limitations ✔ Understand subnetting and CIDR notation ✔ Explore IPv6 architecture and advantages ✔ Learn IPv6 transition techniques ✔ Compare IPv4 and IPv6 protocols 📚 Topics Covered: • Introduction to IP Addressing • Types of IP Addresses • Network Address Translation (NAT) • IPv4 Classes and Structure • Subnetting Techniques • CIDR Notation • IPv6 Addressing and Format • IPv6 Address Types • IPv6 Transition Methods • IPv4 vs IPv6 Comparison 📖 Credits & References Some lecture materials, diagrams, and concepts used in this video are based on lecture slides and educational resources provided for the CS3301 – Computer Networks course. Special thanks to: Chinthaka (W.G.C.W. Kumara) Department of Computer Science and Engineering Faculty of Engineering South Eastern University of Sri Lanka This video is created for educational and knowledge-sharing purposes with additional explanations, demonstrations, and practical discussions.