IP Networks use Routers to do the switching based on IP addresses, Layer 3 routing protocols like BGP or OSPF an Ethernet networks use 48 bit MAC addresses
Spanning Tree is used to route because users, base stations, routers, etc will all need IP addresses (It is an IP-based system)
There are Public (Internet routable) and Private IP addresses (not seen on the Internet) and conversion between them some users may already have public IP addresses, some will Not
An aside: IP header compression will be used throughout
Private IP Addresses
IANA, the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority, who look after these things, has designated some blocks of IP addresses for use as private IP designations.
These addresses should only be used within private LANs and must not become visible on the public Internet.
“10” Block 10.0.0.0 – 10.255.255.255
“172” Block 172.16.0.0 – 172.31.255.255
“192” Block 192.168.0.0 – 192.168.255.255
There is also an IP block which is used for local IP number assignment when a DHCP server is not available.
This is known as Automatic Private IP Addressing.
“169” Block 169.254.0.0 – 169.254.255.255
Both Public and Private IP Addresses Needed
Business users may have a network with routers, small businesses may look like residential customers
Residential Users
No IP address. Need the Network to provide one using DHCP
Business Users
May have own network and allocation of Private IP Addresses Use NAT at the edge of the network to convert to Public IP Addresses
