What is the Differences between Static and Dynamic IP address??

What is the Differences between Static and Dynamic IP address??

Static IP address is the IP address that is manually assign and configured to a computer. It has ranges depending on how big your network is.

One of the common example of a Static IP address is 74.125.71.99 which is the IP address of Google. com; while the Dynamic IP Address or otherwise known as Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol or DHCP are IP addresses that are automatically assigned by a Server or Router.

Every time a computer in a network boots up, a server or a router assigns IP address to that computer, that changes every time the computer obtains an IP address.

The most common example of Dynamic IP address is 192.168.0.1 depending on how big your network is.

The advantages of a Static IP address is that it is more reliable if used in VOIP or voice over internet protocol, hosting a gaming website or when setting up VPN or Virtual Private Network.

Static IP's are also used in servers which needs to have a fixed IP address. The disadvantage of this is that it can become a security risk because the address is always the same and IP conflicts of course when two computers have the same IP address.

The Advantages of a Dynamic IP is you don’t have to configure it, your DHCP Server or Router is the one giving IP address to your computer, thus, making security risk less because it changes every time you obtain an IP address.

Dynamic IP Address is also more cost efficient compared to Static IP. The disadvantage is that it cannot be use or not advisable to be used in VOIP, Gaming or VPN.

We uses those two types of IP Addresses depending on the purpose, each has an advantage and disadvantages as discussed. Hers is one way to know if you have a Dynamic IP Address : Click start, then click RUN, then type CMD.

In the console, type in ipconfig /all , check the results, find the "DHCP ENABLED" line, check if there is a YES after it.

What is the Differences between Static and Dynamic IP address??

Internet protocol (IP) address is a 32 bit binary number assigned to a device (eg:-computer, scanner, printer etc) in a network. This IP address is used to uniquely identify that device, from other devices in the network.

The devices in the network communicate with each other using this IP address. They are stored in text files and displayed in human readable form like 192.168.25.6.

There are two versions of IP addresses IPV4 and IPV6. IPV4 uses 32 bit binary number and IPV6 uses 128 bit binary number. IPV4 is still in use today.

The example shown above is IPV4. Due to the growth of internet there is a depletion in the available IPV4 addresses, so IPV6 was developed to overcome this problem, and is deployed world wide from the middle of  2000’s onwards.

There are two types of  IP addresses static IP address and dynamic IP address.

Static IP address:-

The static IP address is manually assigned to a device in the network. In a computer the static IP address is manually created by a system administrator.

Static IP address will be used in cases, where the IP address should remain same.  For example each website will have a unique IP address and the Domain Name System(DNS) host will translate a website name into an IP address.

Static  IP address will also be used, inside a large enterprise to identify each of the servers.

While manually assigning the IP address, care should be taken to avoid IP address conflict; that is no two devices in the network should have the same IP address.

Dynamic IP address:-

Dynamic IP address is mostly used in the Local Area Network(LAN) and broad band networks. Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol Servers(DHCP) are used to assign the IP address dynamically to a device in the network.

In dynamic addressing when a device connects to a network an IP address is assigned at the time of connection by the DHCP server. When that device disconnects from the network, that same IP address can be assigned to a new device that tries to connect with the network.

Today most of the desktop operating systems, by default use the dynamic IP address to connect with a DHCP server, so the user does not have to manually set the IP address.

Advantages and Disadvantages:-

Static IP address should be used where there is a requirement to do so. Because while manually assigning static IP address to the devices in a large network, if there is a duplication of IP addresses in the network, it will cause IP conflict and can cause errors in the network.

So using dynamic IP addresses is more comfortable where the DHCP server will automatically assign unique IP addresses to the computers in the network.

So this will take care of the burden from the shoulders of the network administrator.

How to find the IP address:-

How to find the IP address of the computer, depends on the operating system used. I will give you the steps to find the IP address in the case of windows 7.

1. You can click start button and select control panel.
2. Please select network and sharing center.
3. You can see the menu in the left side bar, you can select change adapter settings from that. There you can find all the available connections.
4. Select the active network connection and from the tool bar on top of the window click ‘view status of this connection’.
5. Then a small window will open, click the details button on that window, then you can see the current IP address of the computer.

How to know whether the IP address is static or dynamic:-

1. You can click start button and select control panel.
2. Please select network and sharing center.
3. You can see the menu in the left side bar, you can select change adapter settings from that. There you can find all the available connections.
4. Right click the connection you want to change and select properties.
5. Select the networking tab and then select the Internet Protocol Version 4(TCP/IPV4).
6. Then click the properties button.
7. In the general tab there two radio buttons are there. If ‘obtain an IP address automatically’ option is selected then your computer will have dynamic IP address. By default this option will be selected.
8. If ‘use the following IP address’ option is selected your computer will have static IP address. There you will have to enter the IP address manually.

What is the Differences between Static and Dynamic IP address??

Static IP address: Which IP address can’t be changed is called static IP address. It is constant for an individual computer or internet connection. It is manually configured and entered into a device.

Static IP address is always assigned by a network provider or it can be assigned by individual who always control hub or routing of the network. Which sever does not have an individual Domain Name server is controlled by static IP address.

Generally home network or Local Area Network (LAN) always have static IP address. Static IP address always looks like 192.168.0.1 or 192.168.1.1 and subnet mask always look like 255.255.255.0.

If you change subnet mask it can’t be connected anymore. It may be IPv4 style or IPv6 style. Most Local Area Network use IPv4.

You don't need static IP addresses when-

• You want to browse internet service.
• You want to receive and send email from different server.
• You want to download or upload file.
• If you want use chat, voice call or instant message service with other server.

You need static IP address when-

• One or more web server you want to run on your individual site which needs external access.
• One or more Email sever you want to move on your individual site which needs external access.
• One or more FTP sever and DNS server you wan to move on your individual which needs external access.
• Any other application you want to run on your individual site which needs external access.

 Dynamic IP address: The IP address which can be changed at any time or a period of time is called “Dynamic” IP address.

It can be changed after a week, a month or a year. It can be assigned by a server. When you connect your internet service then you are assigned an IP address which comes from a pool.

When you disconnect your internet service and if your IP address is expired then next time you will be assigned by new IP address from the pool.

There are approximately 4 billion IP address is available in pool. So it can be changed any time. Generally WAN like broadband services use Dynamic IP address.

Dynamic IP address always assigned by DHCP server. When you want to connect your computer by a dynamic IP address then you have to send a message to DHCP. DHCP send an IP address to your computer and you get internet connection.

If two computers is assigned by same time then one computer does not get connection. If a sever has a limited number of IP address Than number of  user then some users can not be connected at same time.

So the basic difference between the Dynamic and Static IP Address is Dynamic IP address assigned by DHCP server which can be changed any time and Static IP address is configured by server permanently.

You can trace your IP address easily by following method:    

For Windows XP

• right click on your Network place and selecting properties.  
• Click on network connection properties
• Go to properties by right clicking on Local Area Connection
• Click on TCP/IP then click on properties

For Windows 7 and Vista:

• Go to start menu and click on control panel.
• Then Click on Network and Sharing center icon.
• Go to Change adapter settings
• Right click on local area connection and then click on the properties.
• Then Go to internet protocol option menu.

There you can see your Dynamic or Static IP address. Another option to know your IP address go to  http://www.whatsmyip.org/ and see your available IP address.