SQL sort varchar

Question

i have table contain of ip address, how we can sort the ip address from .1 to .254?

If i sort by asc then the result is not sequence like below pic. After .1 then jump to .102 not to .2

The field using varchar,

Answer 1

Sorting would be easier if you store each octet in separate columns.

Answer 2

Here is a solution which I think is better than splitting the value into four:

SELECT ip_address
FROM  tbl
ORDER BY convert(int, parsename(ip_address, 4)),
         convert(int, parsename(ip_address, 3)),
         convert(int, parsename(ip_address, 2)),
         convert(int, parsename(ip_address, 1))