An Internet Standard, Internet-Layer protocol that moves datagrams (discrete sets of bits) from one computer to another across an internetwork but does not provide reliable delivery, flow control, sequencing, or other end-to-end services that TCP provides. IP version 4 (IPv4) is specified in RFC 791, and IP version 6 (IPv6) is specified in RFC 2460. (See: IP address, TCP/IP.)
An Internet Standard, Internet-Layer protocol that moves datagrams (discrete sets of bits) from one computer to another across an internetwork but does not provide reliable delivery, flow control, sequencing, or other end-to-end services that TCP provides. IP version 4 (IPv4) is specified in RFC 791, and IP version 6 (IPv6) is specified in RFC 2460. (See: IP address, TCP/IP.)
Tutorial: If IP were used in an OSIRM stack, IP would be placed at the top of Layer 3, above other Layer 3 protocols in the stack.
In any IPS stack, IP is always present in the Internet Layer and is always placed at the top of that layer, on top of any other protocols that are used in that layer. In some sense, IP is the only protocol specified for the IPS Internet Layer; other protocols used there, such as AH and ESP, are just IP variations.