What are "private internets" ?

[jim_knopf]

Hello all,

I was wondering if somebody ca explain me what is a "private internet"

I find a lot of entries in my stats that refer to a 192 169 x x IP yet when checking on that IP I get an explanation like that:

This block is used as private address space. Addresses from this block can be used by anyone without any need to coordinate with IANA or an Internet registry. Addresses from this block are used in multiple, separately operated networks. This block was assigned by the IETF in the Best Current Practice document, RFC 1918 which can be found at:
[rfc-editor.org...]

Now I looked at that document but doesn't help me much to understand. Is there an explanation for a internet-weekend warrior.....

Is it like a LAN - Intranet they talk about? Or....

Is it ok to block this IP's with htaccess

Thanks for any pointers, just want to learn a little.

[LifeinAsia]

One possibility is that someone (or more than 1 person) is spoofing their IP address. So the IP address in your log is not the actual IP address of the user.

Another possibility depends on the configuration of your server/network. For example, let's say you have 3 boxes on the non-public side of your firewall- web server, DB server, and another server that periodically cheeks to make sure the web and DB servers are alive and functioning normally. That server will most likely be hitting your web server with it's internal (i.e., private) IP address.

[jim_knopf]

Ok, I guess it must be option #1 cause I'm not having any servers that service anything on the internet. i.e. just a linux box for local use but no permission to go outwards or receive.
The stats in question from a server that's half around the world away from me...

[LifeinAsia]

By the "configuration of your server/network" I meant the server "that's half around the world away from me."