Question about Networking (Computer's IP)

[GenMarshall]

I have recently heard that my parents are going to get a cable modem connection in the house (Comcast High Speed Internet). They are also planning to create a small wireless network (Luckly my laptop already has an internal wireless card.

I am wondering, Is my computer's IP address going to be different when it is networked or will my laptop still retain the same IP address as if it was not networked.

 

[Grisu]

There are basically 2 ways to configure an IP address:

static: you enter the address yourself, this can get complicated since you have to make sure that all Computers (and your wireless router) are in the same subnet and every IP is unique.

dynamic: for that you need a DHCP server. most wireless routers have one integrated so all you have to do is tell your network card to get the IP dynamically. it will then ask the DHCP-Server for an IP everytime it needs an one . the IP you get then will propably be different than the one it has now, it might even change from time to time.

since now you're not networked you propably have on of the standard IPs that windows automatically assigns if it can't find a dhcp-server.

 

[GenMarshall]

Well, I perfer to have a static IP since I dont want to have a failed login with my o:line on a IRCnetwork.

 

[Grisu]

your interernal IP won't matter to the IRC anyway. the ip they see is the one your provider assigns your cable modem. usually they assign you a dynamic address that can change, static addresses are often much more expensive to get