What Is It With 192.168 And Private Networks?

Is there a reason why I can't make my private network addresses
10.0.0.x?

I note that Apple's "AirPort" defaults to a "10" series address.

After reading http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Private_network I come
away thinking that 10.x is a "Single Class A" network... but I
can't figure out what the implications are.

 

Yes, you can use 10.0.0.x for your private network.

You can use anything in the range:
10.x.x.x
172.16.x.x-172.31.x.x
192.168.x.x

I've worked in both the 19 and 192 range for private networks. Never
seen the 172 one use, but I'm sure its used somewhere.

Most domestic routers come pre-configured assuming 192.168.x.x, but
there is no reason you can't use 10.0.0.x if you want to. This shouldn't
cause you any problems because its a range defined for the use of
private networks.

As for the 10.x.x.x being a class A network, that simply refers to the
address range - in this case 10.x.x.x. If you want to use 10.0.0.x you
are simply using part of that address range. No problem there.

Hope this helps.

 

Per Brian Cryer:

Thanks. Did the deed last nite.

Even smoked out a couple of devices with self-set IP addrs in the
process.

I was just a little leery of the "Class A" qualification....

 

I would be reluctant to apply a netmask of 255.0.0.0 to my home 10.x.x.x
network; after all, I don't expect to need 16,777,216 nodes on my
network. Instead, I use 10.0.0.x with a netmask of 255.255.255.0.

Using the Class A network 10.x.x.x may also introduce routing problems
where ISPs use that range for their internal routing, a practice common
with 3G cellular internet providers.