IP stands for "internet protocol" and references a data protocol that is used for communication across a network. A protocol, then, is a standard that governs the connection of that contact between two points on a network. Protocol also references a set of guidelines or rules that govern the aspects of the communication across the network.

Ethernet is a data linkage that governs the network layer protocol known as IP. Ethernet consists of a series of computer technologies and properties used across Local Area Networks (or LANs). Ethernet generally provides each user with a unique global internet protocol (or IP) address. IP is basically the global address of your computer, and is concerned with the ultimate destination of information while Ethernet is concerned with the immediate next step in data transfer. Using the aforementioned metaphor of a child's phone, the Ethernet is focused on the two cans as opposed to the string.

IPv4 was the first version of IP to be widely used globally. IPv4 is, as you'd guess from the name, the 4th version of internet protocol; it now coexists with IPv6 on the internet today. The only forms of internet protocol that can be used on the WWW are IPv6 and IPv4. IPv4, and other internet protocols, offer no guarantees but do promise "best effort delivery." Actually, the "best effort delivery" protocol produces neither improved delivery nor a reliable standard of service or connectivity. This philosophy is somewhat analogous to a real-world post office. While the post office's operations are efficient and all available resources are utilized to ensure one receives their mail, there's also no guarantee of timely delivery.

Along with a lack of data guarantee, IP may also deliver some data corruption, some lack of connectivity to the network, some double arrival in connectivity pings to the network, and even some loss of connection packets. For businesses using voice over ip phone connection or voip systems, this can cause a problem. The only thing IP actually can guarantee to its users is that the address will be correct in terms of connectivity. So the connection may be duplicated or may not arrive at any particular time and the data may be corrupted, but at least the connection knows the address and can deliver it to the address if the factors arrive as predicted. That sounds more and more like the postal service, doesn't it?

IP can be an incredibly complex notion to describe, especially to those people that do not have a lot of technological know-how. The idea behind IP is, however, to provide a network set of rules and regulations that will inevitably give data the opportunity to transmit around and across a given network because the computers and other devices in the network are addressed. IP governs those addresses and the variety of IP formats involved, whether they are IPv4 or IPv6, each come with their own set of particulars that influence the protocol that, thus, transfers your data or voice over ip services across the network.

Graham Pendegrast supports small and medium growing business for technical needs. While he does a lot of it himself, he recommends Integral Networks for Sacramento computer service support and IT consulting help for dealing with computer networking and Sacramento data backup issues for your business.