By default, most computers and devices on the network obtain their IP addresses via DHCP. DHCP is essentially a system by which a host, such as a router or server, issues IP addresses to devices so that they can communicate with the host and with each other over the network.
Each device on the network must have a unique IP address. The IP address of a device may change over time, depending on several factors. This usually does not cause any problems, but there are situations where a static IP address is required.
For example, if your computer is used as a media server in your home, you may want the IP address to remain the same if you need to connect to the computer via its IP address. In other cases, you need to change the IP address to match the subnet of the other device so you can connect and configure it. There are two ways to set a static IP address on the device.
One of the ways I already wrote about is to log into your router and reserve an IP address for a specific device. The advantage of this method is that all changes are made in one place, so it is easy to see which devices have static IP addresses and what those addresses are. Plus, you can easily assign static IP addresses to Windows, Mac, Linux computers or any other device.
The disadvantage of this method is that it requires you to log into your router, which is not easy for some non-technical people. Second, figuring out how to assign static IP addresses to routers can be difficult, and there is no single way to do it.
The second way to assign a static IP address is to change the settings on the device itself. The advantage here is that the process is slightly simpler, but the disadvantage is that each device can have its own method of assigning a static IP address.
Any of these methods will work, so choose the most convenient one. This article will explain the second method, but only for Windows and OS X.
Note: When assigning a static IP address, make sure you do not select an IP address from the DHCP range, otherwise you may get an IP address conflict message that happens when two devices have the same IP address. network address.
The best way to avoid this conflict is to log into your router or any other device acting as a DHCP server and change the starting IP address allocation.
If you start with something like .10 or .11, then you will have some free IPs that you can use to assign as static IPs. It’s a little tricky, so I only suggest this option to those who know what it is doing.
Assign a static IP address – Windows
The following procedure will work for Windows 7, Windows 8, or Windows 10. The first thing we need to do is open the Network and Sharing Center You can do this by clicking the “Start” button and entering “network and sharing”.
In the Network and Sharing Center window, click Change adapter settings on the left.
The “Network Connections” window will open, in which you will see a list of all physical and virtual network devices. Here you will need to right click on the network connection that is currently used to connect your computer to the network and select Properties. If it’s Wi-Fi, use a wireless network connection. If you are connecting via cable, use Ethernet.
Now click Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP / IPv4) to select it, and then click Properties again.
Finally, this will take you to the settings screen where you can assign a static IP address.
You will select the Use the following IP address radio button, and then enter the IP address, subnet mask, and default gateway. By default, when you enter an IP address, it fills in the subnet mask for you. Specify the IP address of your router as the default gateway and preferred DNS server.
I would also check the “Check settings on exit” checkbox to make sure the new values ??work on your network. Click “OK” and your computer will be assigned a static IP address.
Setting a static IP address – Mac (OS X)
If you are using a Mac, you need to go to System Preferences, which are basically the equivalent of the Control Panel in Windows. To get there, click the Apple icon in the upper left corner of the menu bar.
Then click the network icon.
This screen is similar to the Network Connections dialog box in Windows. You will see a list of network connections on the left. If the connection is green, then it is active. Click the connection, and then click the Advanced button in the lower right corner.
This will bring up any additional network connection settings. Click on the TCP / IP tab and you will see a drop-down menu next to Configure IPv4.
In the dropdown list, you have several options: Use DHCP, Use DHCP with manual address, Use BootP, Manual, and Off. On OS X, you can choose DHCP with a manual address or manually. Manually is basically similar to the default in Windows, where you have to enter all the values ??yourself. DHCP with manual address will allow you to enter the IP address, but will automatically detect the subnet mask and router (default gateway).
Even though it looks quite complicated, changing your computer’s IP address is a simple task. The tricky part is knowing which IP address to use so that there are no conflicts, but you can still connect to the network. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to comment. Enjoy!
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