The machines communicate.
Yes, they do. It’s absolutely true. Unlike a human being, they possess an IP that enables a computer or a device to identify another one for communication. The IP, here, is short for Internet Protocol.
What is an IP address?
Certainly, a machine doesn’t know who it is interacting with. But, the IP address makes it happened. It provides it with an address for a piece of network hardware. The World Wide Web is a massive network wherein billions of devices are interconnected. You will be tangled while recognising a device unless you know its IP address. Let’s say you want to know the IP address of an IT company in the Gold Coast. The IT support will address it in the Gold Coast recognizing it as a static IP, dynamic IP, private IP or public IP.
In the nutshell, the IP address shows green signal for communication with other devices over the internet. The IP comprises a string of numbers separated by dots or full stops. For example-191.100.56.101
It uses a set of internet protocols to abide by while connecting over the internet. Basically, it determines the sending host and the destination host. Before airing information, the IP provides the location of the sending host. Simultaneously, it routes the internet address of the destination host.
How does it route the information?
The routing begins when hit the enter key after typing a domain name or a URL. As you type, your browser, let’s say Google Chrome, pings the DNS server to load the information. The DNS server looks into its database of public IP addresses and their associated hosts using the software. This is how it spots the corresponding IP address. Eventually, the request raiser receives it.
Type of IP addresses:
1. Private IP : It defines a private network that you mostly use at your home. The team of the IT support installs a router to let the devices in a premise communicate with it as well as the devices in that network. This kind of IP can be set manually as well as automatically.
2. Public IP: It is an address assigned outside of the network by your ISP (Internet Service Provider). The ISP configures an IP that the connected devices use to communicate over the Internet. In this case, this kind of IP connects the user to the ISP and then, the rest of the world.
3. DHCP : It stands for Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol. It offers fast, automatic and central management for disseminating IP addresses within a network. By intergrating a unique IP, it automatically configures with the network. It turns a router into the DHCP server.
4. Static IP : A static IP address is a static address that is manually set for a device. It means that you can’t change its IP address, as you can do in DHCP server. It is also called a fixed IP address or a dedicated IP address.
Why do you require static IP address in Windows 8 & 10?
1. Static address: It’s quite similar to the postal address. You don’t often change it frequently. Thereby, the host server and browsers find it in a wink without any hitch.
2. Remote service: It is valuable to host a website from your comfort zone and have a file server in your network. Even, you can configure the networked printers on it or use a remote access program. It can be configured on any device or mobile phone.
3. Accuracy: Being a static address, it enables setting up router to forward inbound requests to that computer accurately.
4. Good to go for website: If you host a website on a static IP, you stay away from the hassles of hosting. You don’t need to change the router settings again and again to abide by the requests to the new addresses. If you ignore it, nobody could ever get to your website. It’s simply because your router would not recognise the network of your website.
5. Easy configuration with DNS server: This address is developed to easily connect to the DNS server. Any other type of IP addresses requires reconfiguring to DNS servers on your router.
6. Easy accessibility: If your domain name is inaccessible, the file server connects to the destination host using this IP. It means that the file server lets computers communicate with it directly through the static IP address.
Easy IT solutions to resolve IP address problem in Windows 8 and 10:
a. Press Windows+R.
b. Input ncpa.cpl in the ‘Run’ dialog box.
c. Click ‘ok’.
e. Right click the Wi Fi or the internet connection.
f. Move to its ‘Properties’.
g. A window will pop up wherein hit the radio button ‘Use the Following IP Address’.
h. Type in the IP address, Subnet mask and Default gateway.
i. Input information in the ‘Preferred DNS Server’ as well.
j. Hit ‘Ok’ button.