www.freesoft.org's IP address, 208.130.29.33, is shown expanded into binary, with each of its address prefixes expanded and labeled.

So, which address prefix would actually be used? That depends on your location in the network. From a distant Internet provider, the single prefix 208.128/11 would match hundreds of MCI's customers, including ARS, and direct traffic towards MCI's network. Why maintain hundreds of table entries when a single one will do?

As we get closer to the destination, specifically as the traffic passes into MCI's network, more fine grained table entries appear, including one for 208.130.28/22 that directs traffic towards the fractional T-1 link connecting ARS with MCI.

Once the data passes onto ARS's network, a table entry matching the prefix 208.130.29/24 indicates a route to the public web servers' Ethernet, and an ARP resolution converts 208.130.29.33 into an Ethernet address for final delivery.

Dies ist ein Mirror von Connected: An Internet Encyclopedia von Brent Baccala. Die offizielle Projekt-Homepage findet sich im Web unter www.freesoft.org/CIE. Dieser Mirror wurde zuletzt aktualisiert am Samstag, 28 Januar 2006 18:17 +0100.