In reality, IP addresses uniquely identify a device within a given context. When we said that IP addresses were uniquely identifying each device, this was a bit of a stretch. IP addresses soon became an essential part of every computer’s configuration. Eventually, the Internet grew in popularity and it started to make sense for everyone to use IP networking. Back then, IP networks-which stands for Internet Protocol-were only used for-you guessed it-the Internet. In fact, there was a time when each manufacturer used a different networking scheme. Microsoft used to have NetBEUI networking, Novell NetWare had IPX/SPX, and Apple had AppleTalk.

Nowadays, IP networks are largely prevalent but it hasn’t always been the case. They’re like the street addresses of the IP network world. IP addresses are used to uniquely identify each device connected to a network. We’ll introduce each tool and present its main features. Finally, we’ll be ready for the big reveal and have a look at some of the best IP scanners for Windows. Then, we’ll have a look at the different types of IP address tools that are available.

We’ll discuss IP address allocation and management and compare static and dynamic addressing. If you’d rather use tools that can run on Windows, we’ve compiled a list of the best IP scanners for Windows.īefore we reveal what the best tools are we’ll briefly sidetrack and have an in-depth look at IP addressing. A ton of such tools are available as open-source software but many of these run on open-source operating systems such as Linux. For an up-to-date picture of which IP addresses are in use and which are free, nothing beats an IP scanner. And while most administrators use some sort of IP address management tool-which, sometimes, can be as simple as a text file with IP addresses and computer and device names, they have no real control over what actually gets plugged into the network. The single most important thing about IP addresses is that each one must be unique within a network. What can be complex, in most real-life situations, is keeping track of IP address usage. But is it really? Well, to be honest, it’s actually rather simple.

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