Can someone tell me the difference between Gateway and IP?

by admin on May 1, 2009

I need a breif answer on the difference between a Gateway and IP address is.

Tags: Gateway IP

{ 1 comment… read it below or add one }

Otaso May 1, 2009 at 12:00 am: Gateway – A node on a network that serves as an entrance to another network. In enterprises, the gateway is the computer that routes the traffic from a workstation to the outside network that is serving the Web pages. In homes, the gateway is the ISP that connects the user to the internet.

(also, an earlier term for router, though now obsolete in this sense as router is commonly used.)

IP Address – An identifier for a computer or device on a TCP/IP network. Networks using the TCP/IP protocol route messages based on the IP address of the destination. The format of an IP address is a 32-bit numeric address written as four numbers separated by periods. Each number can be zero to 255. For example, 1.160.10.240 could be an IP address.

Definitions from http://webopedia.com

So basically, your Gateway represents your ISP, and the IP address is what identifies you on the internet. (assigned by the Gateway)