At times when you indulge into the realm of internet and networking. Not often, but, indeed, you may have heard of routable IP addresses and non routable IP addresses.
You can think of these two as a type of network connection that each do have advantages and disadvantages.
In this blog, you will learn about non-routable ip addresses with its importance, pros and cons, role b/w IPv4 and IPv6, and differences.
Let’s get into the details.
Also read: How To Calculate Your Body Temperature With An iPhone Using Smart ThermometerNon-routable IP addresses or private IP addresses are reserved numbers (contains four numbers separated by dots with range specified and incorporate RFC 1918 as structure) that computers use to communicate with each other within a private network.
Generally, home and office networks are built on top of this technology to ensure efficient device communication processes and seamless private network operations.
These IP addresses are hard to crack as it uses strong layers of protection and prohibits hackers from breaching your system.
Importance of non-routable IP addresses space:
The need for non-routable IP addresses is essential for various reasons. Be it securing local area networks or transferring sensitive information, thanks to private network addresses that grants such power.
Thus, switching from a routable IP address to a private one is beneficial. However, there are differences between both of them.
Also read: 10 Top Android Apps For Personal FinancesGlance at the differences between routable and non-routable IPs:
Basis | Routable IPs | Non-Routable IPs |
---|---|---|
Data Forwarding | Happen from one network to another. | It is not possible. |
Data Transfer | Transfers data from one network to another via router. | Cannot use routers to transmit data over the network. |
Accommodate | Incorporates a network address and a device address. | Only contains a device address. |
Used For | Used for large networks. | Designed for local networks. |
Technical Complexity | Requires technical know-how to maintain. | Less complex than routable IPs. |
Accessibility | Has direct internet access. | Needs NAT for internet access. |
Network Usability | Can operate in different networks. | Limited to the same network. |
Security | Directly exposed to the internet and needs extra security measures. | Out from the internet, therefore offers an additional layer of security. |
Indeed, private network access has its own advantages and disadvantages. Following are advantages and disadvantages of non-routable addresses.
Advantages of Non-Routable Address Space:
High level security: Undoubtedly, enhanced security which grants secured communication over compute. As there is no involvement of the internet, making them less susceptible to external threats.
Network isolation: Another advantage is isolated networks, where devices can communicate within the private network. This feature is commonly used for internal company networks and home networks.
Good for testing and development: Non-routable addresses are useful for testing and development objectives. For instance; developers can simulate various scenarios without affecting external systems.
Reduced Network Traffic: By keeping internal communication within private address space, it reduces unnecessary traffic on the public internet, leading to more efficient data usage and potentially lower costs.
Disadvantages of Non-Routable Address Space:
Limited external communication: Primitively, devices on private networks can only communicate with the internet indirectly through a NAT or proxy.
Configuration complexity: In large ventures, managing private address spaces can be more complicated. It is because accurate configuration is required to ensure that ranges do not conflict with each other.
IP tracing is difficult: Another concern is end-to-end IP tracing. It is difficult to do because troubleshooting is not possible from a remote site.
Also read: 30 Best Money Making Websites, Top Rated Money Earning Websites (No Cash Deposit!)Request For Comment 1918 (RFC) is the responsibility of Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) organisation for assigning private IP addresses on TCP/IP networks.
They have made networking standards for private IPs. Basically, these standards act as a reservation for non routable IP addresses.
Here’s the RFC1918 standardised for private address space:
Ironically, these specified standards are only allotted to the enterprises authorised for internal use only.
VPNs (Virtual Private Networks) use non-routable IP addresses as part of their architecture to create secure and private connections between users and the VPN server.
Here’s how VPNs use non-routable IP addresses:
When you connect to a VPN, your device becomes part of the VPN’s internal network.
The VPN server assigns your device a non-routable IP address from a reserved private address space (e.g., 10.0.0.0/8, 192.168.0.0/16 in IPv4, or fc00::/7 in IPv6).
To share data securely, VPN sends the data packets into a secure tunnel.
In addition to tunnelling, VPNs employ encryption to protect the data within the tunnel.
The data is encrypted using encryption algorithms.
Routers on the internet route the encrypted packets based on the public IP address of the VPN server, and they are delivered to the VPN server’s location.
Upon reaching the VPN server, the data is decrypted, and the outer headers are removed, revealing the original data packets.
The VPN server then sends these decrypted packets to their intended destination on the internet.
The VPN server receives the response, encrypts it, and encapsulates it in a tunnel directed to your device’s non-routable IP address.
At last, the client receives the encrypted data, decrypts it, and delivers the original response to your application.
In short…
VPNs assign your device a non-routable IP address from a private range when you connect to them. They create a secure “tunnel” around your data while incubating non-routable IP addresses as the source.
Next, our data is encrypted and protected while travelling over the public internet. The VPN server decrypts the data and sends it to its intended destination using its own public IP address. When the response comes back, it goes through the same process in reverse, ensuring secure and private communication.
Also read: How to choose The Perfect Domain NameThe non-routable IP addresses are specifically designed for internal communication or transfer of data. This means, reserved for use only within private/corporate network.
No, IPv4 as a whole is not non-routable.
No, IPv6 is not non-routable. Similar to IPv4, IPv6 is designed to be routable.
IPv4 Non-Routable IP Address example - 10.0.0.0 - 10.255.255.255 (10.0.0.0/8) and IPv6 example - fc00::/7 (starting with fd).
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