Pls help me to understand this aspect of IP addies...

[newyorkny]

Friends:

A weird situation came up yesterday that made me realize my understanding of IP Addressing is vague in spots.

We need to move our servers from one provider to another...it's all within one building and organization but there are all sorts of different groups using different providers to get their sites on the web.

A gentleman offered to get us online for free if we "provided [our] own IP address."

The provider we are with now assigned us our current IP. Could a kind soul please explain what's stopping us from simply taking the IP with us?

Further, can one procure an IP sans other services?? Can I go to ATT and say "I'd like an IP, please?"

I realize this is baby stuff, and thanks for your guidance.

NY

 

[jimbopalmer]

Since there would need to be a seperate entry for each block of addresses on the internet, getting the largest block of addresses you can and holding on to them means the internet has smaller routing tables. (this is why your current ISP won't give up your address)

A little over a decade ago my employer asked the IANA for 4 class C addresses and got them, these days 1024 consecutive addresses would be a valuable commodity to an ISP. If you, as opposed to your ISP, even own your block of 256 IP addresses I can see why the new ISP is wanting to help!

http://www.iana.org/

http://www.arin.net/whois/index.html

I tried to remain child-like, all I acheived was childish.

 

[newyorkny]

Thanks Jimbo. Interesting stuff.

I guess my question gets back to even more basic stuff.

I'm confused I suppose, by what it means to have an IP address.

My IP address is controlled by the owner, the ISP, who routes traffic to my network based on entries in his routing tables, right? So if I simply move my machine to a new network, keeping the IP, it will do me zero good? As far as the world will be concerned, there will be no-one home?

Thanks for helping me noodle this out.

 

[rcraig12]

I think you should ask the guy offering free feeds what exactly it is he is looking for.

Its all a bit vague don't you agree?

 

[ChrisAC]

Tell this guy what your IP range is and then ask him how he intends to route it on his "free" connection.

Then show him the door ;-)

Chris.


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Chris Andrew, CCNA, CCSA
chris@iproute.co.uk
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