A 4 byte IP address consists of __________ c) network address & host address b) only host address a) only network address d) network address & MAC address

Break Down the Problem

1. Identify the components of an IP address.
2. Understand the structure of a 4-byte IP address.
3. Analyze the options provided to determine which correctly represents the composition of an IP address.

Relevant Concepts

• An IP address consists of two main parts: the network portion and the host portion.
• The network portion identifies the specific network on which a device is located, while the host portion identifies the specific device (or host) on that network.

Analysis and Detail

• A 4-byte IP address (IPv4) can be expressed in decimal as four octets, with each octet accounting for 8 bits, making it a total of 32 bits.
• Typically, the first part of the IP address, which is designated for the network portion, may vary in size depending on the subnet mask, while the remaining part is used for host addressing.
• The options presented are:
  • a) only network address: This is incorrect as an IP address contains both network and host parts.
  • b) only host address: This is not correct since an IP address also contains a network portion.
  • c) network address & host address: This correctly reflects the structure of a 4-byte IP address.
  • d) network address & MAC address: This is incorrect as the MAC address is irrelevant in determining the composition of an IP address.

Verify and Summarize

Upon analysis, option (c) clearly represents the two components that make up an IP address, which is common knowledge in networking concepts.

Final Answer

The correct answer is: c) network address & host address.