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From: dripton@netcom.com (David Ripton)
Subject: Re: tcp/ip number in gpl
Message-ID: <driptonF703zp.EHy@netcom.com>
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References: <36BC15CE.E72@zip.com.au> <36BD2D4D.5D40@zip.com.au> <yMmv2.1430$gk.2497927@news3.atl> <36C3087D.D09511F7@sprynet.com>
Date: Thu, 11 Feb 1999 17:45:25 GMT
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Xref: news.jprc.com rec.autos.simulators:74014

In article <36C3087D.D09511F7@sprynet.com>,
Joel Willstein  <jaw101@sprynet.com> wrote:
>Jack wrote:
>> >Where does that tcp/ip node number come from?
>> 
>> The IP address is assigned by your ISP. If Phil gives you his IP address
>> (xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx) and then gets disconnected and reconnects, he'll likely
>> have a different IP address, so your attempts to connect to the old IP will
>> just produce timeout errors.
>
>I keep seeing references to each time you sign on,your ISP assigns you a
>different tcp/IP number. I use Sprynet/Mindscape,and my TCP/IP number
>has remained the same for more than 2 years. If my ISP can do this,then
>why can't the rest of the ISPs do it?

IP addresses are a limited resource.  There are only 32 bits worth of
them, or about 4 billion.  That sounds like a lot, but it's not enough
for everyone on earth to have one, and they get handed out in big 
blocks so there's some waste.  Anyway, ISPs that dynamically assign
IP addresses need fewer than those who give fixed IPs to each customer,
since only a small percentage of customers are online at any given
time.  The groups that hand out IPs (ARIN and RIPE) are trying to 
force ISPs to do this for all dialup customers, to make the pool of
remaining IP addresses last.  You're lucky enough to be grandfathered,
but don't be surprised if your ISP goes dynamic one of these days.

IPv6 will use 128-bit IP addresses.  That's plenty.

-- 
David Ripton    dripton@netcom.com
spamgard(tm): To email me, put "geek" in your Subject line.
