Here's an overview of IP address classes and their characteristics: - kondareddypp/azure-network-fundamentals GitHub Wiki

Class A

Range:

1.0.0.0 to 126.0.0.0

Subnet Mask: 255.0.0.0

CIDR Notation: /8

Total Networks:

128 (from 0 to 127, but 127 is reserved for loopback addresses)

Hosts per Network: Approximately 16 million

Usage: Large networks with many devices

Class B

Range: 128.0.0.0 to 191.255.0.0

Subnet Mask: 255.255.0.0

CIDR Notation: /16

Total Networks: 16,384

Hosts per Network: Approximately 65,000

Usage: Medium-sized networks, including universities and corporations

Class C

Range: 192.0.0.0 to 223.255.255.0

Subnet Mask: 255.255.255.0

CIDR Notation: /24

Total Networks: 2,097,152

Hosts per Network: 254

Usage: Small networks, such as small businesses and home networks

Class D

Range: 224.0.0.0 to 239.255.255.255

Purpose: Reserved for multicast addressing

Usage: Used for broadcasting to multiple hosts in a specific group

Class E

Range: 240.0.0.0 to 255.255.255.255

Purpose: Reserved for experimental use

Usage: Used for research and development purposes

Special Addresses

Loopback: 127.0.0.1 is used to test network software without physically transmitting packets over a network.

Private IPs: Reserved for internal use within networks:

Class A: 10.0.0.0 to 10.255.255.255

Class B: 172.16.0.0 to 172.31.255.255

Class C: 192.168.0.0 to 192.168.255.255