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How Does a Device Get a Private IP Address?

Published in Networking 2 mins read

A device gets a private IP address through a process called Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP). Here's how it works:

DHCP Process

  1. Request: When a device connects to a network, it sends out a DHCP request. This request asks for an IP address and other network configuration information.
  2. Offer: The DHCP server, typically a router, receives the request and responds with a DHCP offer. This offer includes a potential IP address for the device.
  3. Request: The device sends a DHCP request back to the server, acknowledging the offered IP address.
  4. Acknowledgement: The DHCP server sends a DHCP acknowledgement (ACK) message, confirming the allocation of the IP address to the device.

Private IP Address Range

Private IP addresses are used within a local network and are not accessible from the public internet. The most common private IP address ranges are:

  • 10.0.0.0 to 10.255.255.255
  • 172.16.0.0 to 172.31.255.255
  • 192.168.0.0 to 192.168.255.255

Example

Imagine you connect your laptop to your home Wi-Fi network. Your laptop sends a DHCP request to your router. The router responds with a DHCP offer, assigning a private IP address like 192.168.1.100 to your laptop. This allows your laptop to communicate with other devices on your home network.

Conclusion

Private IP addresses are assigned to devices within a local network through DHCP. This process ensures that devices can communicate with each other without conflicting IP addresses.

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