IP address

[madmondeo]

is it possible to change your ip address?

if so, ............., how? thanks

[Buenchico]

Most people have 'dynamic' IP addresses, which means that their ISP allocates them a random IP address (from the pool of addresses available to them) every time a user logs on. If you've got a dynamic IP address it will change if you simply disconnect from the internet and then reconnect.

A minority of people have 'static' IP addresses, which remain constant. You can't change such an address (unless your ISP agrees to do so) but you can hide it by posting through an anonymous proxy server. It's easy to do if you use Firefox as your browser:
http://www.theanswerb...y/Question958319.html

Instructions for configuring an anonymous proxy (and, of course, for finding one in the first place) can be found in my post here:
http://www.theanswerb...y/Question958319.html

Chris

[VHG]

If you do have a "dynamic" IP address (like Buenchico says), and most of us do, then even when you turn your PC off overnight your PC "holds on" to this ip address and uses it the next day.

Only if you turn your PC off for a number of days is this ip address released.

You can go into the command line and "release" your ip address, with the command

ipconfig /release

You can then get a new one with

ipconfig /renew

Note you MAY get the same ip adress back again.

More here

http://compnetworking...ht/renewipaddrwxp.htm

[ChuckFickens]

Doing an ipconfig /release (or any other switch for ipconfig) will only effect your LAN IP address, in the majority of cases this has no relation to your WAN IP address.

[puternut]

As a non-expert can I disagree slightly with VHG in that, I believe, if you lose your internet connection then you would also then you might be allocated a different IP?? You do not necessarily have to turn off your PC

I had a problem with my ISP in that the connection would drop anything up to 10 times an hour. I was using a paid for download service and got into trouble as whenever the connection dropped and then re-connected then it was a different IP address and the d/l service thought I was signing on from multiple addresses and threatened to suspend the account as it might mean I had given my pass to other people who were then signing on as me !!

Its sorted now

[rojash]

If you have a dynamic address then to change it just turn off your router for a few seconds. A new address will be allocated when you restart it.

[DTCwordfan]

how do you know if you have dynamic or static...

[Buenchico]

For DTcrossword fan:
Most ISPs charge extra for a static IP address. (You don't need one unless, for example, you're using your computer as a web server).

To check your current IP address, go here:
http://whatismyipaddress.com/
Make a note of the address shown, then disconnect and reconnect your router. If you see the same address it's probably static (unless, by some chance, you've just been reallocated the original address). If it's different, it's dynamic.

Chris

[DTCwordfan]

thanks Chris - Nick

[society]

I've learned a lot from this post. Thanks everyone. x

[Chappers]

As someone who has just changed ISP, I've noticed that static IP addresses are becoming a LOT more common!

But you can use a bit of web-based software like:

http://www.anonymizer.com/
http://hidemyass.com/
http://www.torproject.org/

These might be useful for you.

[Rasman]

I was experiencing some connection problems with Virgin media and I have a static IP address.
I unplugged the cable modem and called their helpline, the chap at the other end ran a remote test and sure enough (as it was unplugged) he sent an engineer round the next day. He also reimbursed my account with £5 for loss of service!

Once the modem had been exchanged I had a new IP .