IP Network

What Does IP Network Mean?

An IP network is a communication network that uses Internet Protocol (IP) to send and receive messages between one or more computers. As one of the most commonly used global networks, an IP network is implemented in Internet networks, local area networks (LAN) and enterprise networks. An IP network requires that all hosts or network nodes be configured with the TCP/IP suite.

Techopedia Explains IP Network

Each host is assigned a unique logical IP address, which distinguishes it from other nodes and helps initiate data communication with other hosts. IP network communication occurs when a host sends a data packet to another host by addressing its IP address. Similarly, the recipient identifies the sender by its IP address.

Moreover, an IP network requires that all connected devices – such as servers, switches, routers and other devices – be configured with the TCP/IP suite and have a valid IP address to perform any network communication.

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Margaret Rouse

Technology Specialist

Margaret is an award-winning writer and educator known for her ability to explain complex technical topics to a non-technical business audience. Over the past twenty years, her IT definitions have been published by Que in an encyclopedia of technology terms and cited in articles in the New York Times, Time Magazine, USA Today, ZDNet, PC Magazine, and Discovery Magazine. She joined Techopedia in 2011. Margaret’s idea of a fun day is to help IT and business professionals to learn to speak each other’s highly specialized languages.

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