Topic: IP Address Question

[falky4]

General Question Here: Lately i've been trying to learn alot about computers and i thought it was common belief that the internal ip address of an computer never changes, that it is always the same. Could someone verify/correct me on this? Because i just read an article saying that your ISP (dont know what that is either please explain) changes your IP everytime you log back onto the internet. Please help :S

[mudmanc4]

 The internal IP is generally set as dynamic within the router/ modem, this will but not always change each time the device requesting access to an outside network is turned on, or active.

 The ISP, or Internet Service Provider , also as a rule sends dynamic IP's to the modem, the modem will them "lease" out dynamic IP's to devices on the internal network. Business class connections, servers ect. would need a static IP, so it can be arranged with something humanly memorable in the form of a URL or, website name then is stored on a DNS Domain Name Server, which allows the request to be answered , and directed faster, without a huge worldwide search of every connected device on the internet.

 Each device is generally capable of being set up with a static IP from within the IP server, or router.

 Hope that helped, if you need more , ask

[wknight40]

Not to confuse you but the address that does not change on the computer is the "MAC" address.  This is hard coded into the network card itself.  Generally it is a unique number but it is possible for two cards to have the same number.  Genrally this will not happen with in a local or most company networks though.

[falky4]

So could you connect to a computer through the MAC address?

[wknight40]

Just in my limited experiance yes and no.  A DHCP server can be set to use the MAC address to reserve an IP address for that computer/network card only.  With netware I have seen them use the MAC address to locate and connect a computer to the system.  This may not be entirely true.  Just what I have seen.