Nepal Police2082 BSQuestion 2 of 8
What is an IP address? Differentiate between IPv4 and IPv6.
5 marks
Question source
- Exam year
- 2082 BS / 2025 AD
- Level
- Level 5
- Paper
- Technical – Subjective
- Section
- Section A: Short Answer Questions (6 × 5 = 30 marks)
Model answer
An IP (Internet Protocol) address is a unique numerical label assigned to every device connected to a computer network that uses the Internet Protocol for communication.
Difference between IPv4 and IPv6:
| Basis | IPv4 | IPv6 |
|---|---|---|
| Bit length | 32-bit | 128-bit |
| Address format | Decimal (e.g., 192.168.1.1) | Hexadecimal (e.g., 2001:0db8::1) |
| Total addresses | ~4.3 billion | ~340 undecillion |
| Header size | 20-60 bytes | Fixed 40 bytes |
| Security | Optional (IPSec) | Built-in (IPSec mandatory) |
| Configuration | Manual or DHCP | Auto-configuration (SLAAC) |