192.168.1.1 - IP Address Explained

Have you ever seen this address and wondered what it was?

This address is part of the class C family of IPv4 (Internet Protocol Version 4) addressing.  

This address is a private IP address, an address that starts with 192.168.1 is a private IP address.  These addresses cannot be used on the internet.  Addresses starting with 192.168.1 can only be used within private networks.  Normally used for small office networks, or home networks.

The most common use of the 192.168.1.1 address is that of home wireless routers.  A small HTTP page is stored on the router, and the address which allows the user to connect to the router is 192.168.1.1.

Try is yourself!  Type http://192.168.1.1 in your web browser and see what happens.

As this is your routers IP address, this makes it your "default gateway" address also.  A default gateway address is used to tell a computer the way out of its own network.  

When your computer talks with the internet, packets must be sent through your router,  this is effectively the "gateway" out of your home network.  Network Address Translation takes place here, turning your 192.168.1.x address into your public IP address which the clients on the 192.168.1 network all share.

To find out what your default gateway is try the following.

Start > Run > cmd

This will open Command Prompt.  Type the following.

>ipconfig /all

This will display your IP settings.  Notice your default gateway.

Richard.