How are IP addresses assigned and managed?

IP addresses are assigned and managed by Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and organisations like the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA).

In more detail, the process of assigning and managing IP addresses is a complex one that involves several entities. The Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA) is the global organisation responsible for managing the IP address space. It allocates blocks of IP addresses to five regional internet registries (RIRs) around the world: ARIN (North America), RIPE NCC (Europe, the Middle East and parts of Central Asia), APNIC (Asia Pacific), LACNIC (Latin America and the Caribbean) and AFRINIC (Africa).

These RIRs then distribute IP addresses to Internet Service Providers (ISPs) in their respective regions. ISPs, in turn, assign IP addresses to their customers, which can be individuals, businesses or other organisations. This can be done in a static or dynamic manner. Static IP addresses are permanent and do not change. They are typically used by servers or websites that need a consistent address. Dynamic IP addresses, on the other hand, are temporary and can change every time a device connects to the internet. Most home internet connections use dynamic IP addresses.

In addition to this, some large organisations may have their own blocks of IP addresses that they manage internally. This is often the case for universities, large businesses and government organisations. They have network administrators who are responsible for assigning and managing these IP addresses.

Furthermore, the advent of IPv6 (Internet Protocol version 6) has significantly increased the number of available IP addresses. This was necessary due to the rapid growth of the internet and the exhaustion of IPv4 addresses. IPv6 uses a 128-bit address space, compared to the 32-bit address space of IPv4, allowing for a virtually unlimited number of unique IP addresses.

In conclusion, the assignment and management of IP addresses is a multi-layered process involving global, regional and local entities. It is a critical aspect of how the internet functions, enabling devices to communicate and exchange information.