More about your IP address (Internet Protocol address). Connecting to the Internet, either via your internet service provider (T-mobile, Mediacom, Optimum, etc.) you are assigned an IP address. This address identifies your device from the other computers on the Internet. You can get IP address two ways: static or dynamic. Static means address never changes, dynamic means each time you connect online you are assigned a new address for that session. If you use a home router to connect to the Internet, the IP shown from these commands will not be your public IP address but internal IP address. Internal IP address usually start with a 192.168… (home routers) or 10.10… (servers).
A dynamic IP address is suitable if you have several computers on an internal network or you need to connect through one-way Virtual Private Network.
A Static IP address is needed if you: run your own website (FTP) or email server or use certain security applications, like centralised cameras and polling software
How to check your current network environment on Windows?
- Click on Start/Run,
- Enter in the command: cmd
- At the command prompt (black background) enter in: ipconfig
If you’d like to know your MAC address (physical hardware address of a your network card), at the command prompt you can enter the following command:
getmac -v
How to check your current network environment on Mac OS?
- Click on the Mac logo on the top left of the screen,
- Open System Preferences,
- Under Internet and Network, click ‘Network’,
- Select which adapter, such as AirPort or Ethernet,
- Select TCP/IP and you’ll see your IP address.
Since mid 2000s a new version of IP address format has been deployed – IPv6. Old version IPv4 defines an IP address as a 32-bit number (is still in use today). However, because of the growth of the Internet and the predicted depletion of available addresses, a new 128 bits version was developed.
