TechKnowSurge
CompTIA Network+ 1.7 Cisco CCNA 1.6 Cisco CCST Networking 2.2 Cisco CCNA 1.7
TechKnowSurge Catalog Interactives IPv4 Address Type Sorter
InteractiveNetworkFree

IPv4 Address Type Sorter

Sort IPv4 addresses into network address, broadcast address, private host, public host, or special addresses that are never a host.

⚑ Complete this interactive to capture a CTF flag worth 5 points.

About this interactive

Every IPv4 address answers several questions at once, and the order you ask them in matters. First: is it a host address at all? The 127 range (127.0.0.0 to 127.255.255.255) is loopback: traffic to it never leaves the device, so it is never assigned to a host on a network. 0.0.0.0 stands for "any address": as 0.0.0.0/0 it is the default route, and a device uses it as its source only before it has an address. Class D (224 to 239) is multicast, a group address rather than one device's, and Class E (240 to 255) is experimental. None of these is a host address. Second: what is its role in its network? Read the class, then look only at the host octets. Class A has three host octets, Class B two, Class C one. All of them 0: the network address. All of them 255: the broadcast address. Anything else: a usable host. Look at every host octet, not just the last. 144.22.0.255 ends in 255, but it is Class B, so its host octets are 0.255; that is a host, and its network's broadcast is 144.22.255.255. 10.45.0.0 ends in .0.0, but it is Class A, so its host octets are 45.0.0; that is a host too, and its network address is 10.0.0.0. Third, for a host only: private or public? RFC 1918 sets aside 10.0.0.0 to 10.255.255.255, 172.16.0.0 to 172.31.255.255 and 192.168.0.0 to 192.168.255.255 for private use inside an organization; anything outside them (and outside the special ranges) is public. Watch the edges: 172.32.10.5 and 192.169.4.20 are just outside and are public. A network or broadcast address in a private range still goes in the network or broadcast bin: role comes first. Assume classful boundaries throughout, with no subnetting. Ten of the twenty-five addresses are drawn each run.

What you'll learn

Aligned to

CompTIA Network+
1.7 Given a scenario, use appropriate IPv4 network addressing.
Cisco CCNA
1.6 Configure and verify IPv4 addressing and subnetting
1.7 Describe private IPv4 addressing
Cisco CCST Networking
2.2 Identify IPv4 addresses and subnet formats

Key terms

Network Address
The first address in an IP network range that identifies the network itself and cannot be assigned to a host. It is formed when all host bits are set to zero.
Broadcast Address
The last address in an IP subnet range, formed when all host bits are set to one, used to send a single packet to every device on that network simultaneously.
Usable Host Address
An IP address within a subnet that can be assigned to a device, excluding the network address, broadcast address, and any reserved ranges.
Private IPv4 Address
An IP address from RFC 1918 ranges (10.0.0.0/8, 172.16.0.0/12, 192.168.0.0/16) that is not routable on the public internet and must be translated before traversing it.
Public IP Address
A globally unique IP address assigned to a device or network that is routable and reachable across the public internet.
Loopback Address
The reserved IPv4 address 127.0.0.1 (within the 127.0.0.0/8 range) that a device uses to send traffic to itself, allowing the local network stack to be tested without sending packets onto a physical network. Pinging 127.0.0.1 is a quick way to verify that a device's TCP/IP stack is functioning.
Quad-Zero Address
The IPv4 address 0.0.0.0, used to represent all networks or an unspecified address, commonly indicating the default route that encompasses all IP destinations.
RFC 1918
The internet standard that defines three private IPv4 address ranges reserved for use within private networks and not routable on the public internet.
Multicast
A transmission type in which data is sent from one source to a specific group of devices that have subscribed to a multicast group address, rather than to all devices or just one. This differs from broadcast (all devices) and unicast (one device).
Reserved Address Range
Blocks of IP addresses set aside for special purposes, such as experimental use, that cannot be assigned to host devices.

Topics

Address Types Network Address Broadcast Address Private Addressing Loopback Address Interactive Categorize

About TechKnowSurge

TechKnowSurge builds IT and cybersecurity professionals through hands-on, concept-first training built around real understanding — not memorization. Free interactive tools, structured programs, and 25+ years of real-world experience, all in one place.

Explore free tools and programs →