Every device that is connected to the internet has an IP address. This is a unique identifier that allows devices to communicate with each other over the internet. But when it comes to devices that are connected to a local area network (LAN), there are two types of IP addresses: the LAN IP address and the public IP address.
The LAN IP address is used to identify a device on a local network. This means that devices on the same network can communicate with each other using these IP addresses. The LAN IP address is usually assigned to a device by the router, which acts as the gateway to the internet.
The LAN IP address is different from the public IP address, which is used to identify a device on the internet. When a device on a LAN connects to the internet, the router assigns the device a public IP address. This public IP address changes every time the device is connected to the internet, whereas the LAN IP address remains the same.
The LAN IP address is usually a private IP address, which means that it cannot be accessed directly from the internet. This is because private IP addresses are reserved for use on private networks and are not recognized on the internet.
- 192.168.0.0 – 192.168.255.255 (65,536 IP addresses)
- 172.16.0.0 – 172.31.255.255 (1,048,576 IP addresses)
- 10.0.0.0 – 10.255.255.255 (16,777,216 IP addresses)
The LAN IP address is important for setting up devices on a local network, such as printers or servers. It allows devices to communicate with each other and share resources. It’s important to know the LAN IP address of a device if you want to access it from another device on the same network.
In conclusion, the LAN IP address is an important part of any local network. It is used to identify devices on the network and allows them to communicate with each other. Understanding the difference between the LAN IP address and the public IP address is important for setting up devices on a network and for troubleshooting network issues.