IPvõrkudes

IPvõrkudes is the Estonian term for networks that use the Internet Protocol (IP) for addressing and routing. In practical terms, IPvõrkudes refers to any collection of devices connected so they can communicate by exchanging IP packets, including local area networks, wide area networks, and the global Internet. Each device on such a network is assigned an IP address, enabling packet delivery across routers that forward traffic toward its destination based on routing tables and protocols.

IP networks have evolved from IPv4, which uses a 32-bit address space, to IPv6, which provides a vastly larger address space and improved features such as a simplified header format and built-in multicast. Most networks today operate with a mix of IPv4 and IPv6, sometimes using network address translation (NAT) to manage address scarcity. Address allocation is coordinated by regional Internet registries (RIRs) under the authority of IANA.

Routing in IPvõrkudes relies on routing protocols such as OSPF and BGP to determine paths through interconnected networks. DNS translates domain names into IP addresses, while DHCP and DHCPv6 assign IP configuration to hosts. Security considerations include IP-based approaches like IPsec, firewalls, and access control lists, as well as best practices for securing routing and preventing spoofing and DDoS.

IPvõrkudes are foundational to modern communications, enabling services from simple email to streaming and cloud-based applications. Ongoing developments focus on scalability, security, and the seamless coexistence of IPv4 and IPv6 as the Internet continues to grow.