What is dynamic IP address?

[Mike]

Can anyone tell me the difference between static IP address and dynamic IP address?

[hazephase]

Static IP is the same all the time and thats your pc address but dynamic may change every time you connect to the internet or the network that you use

[Nick]

That's exactly.
Dynamic IP address is more useful when you work in a LAN. Accessing internet using dynamic IP is much easier and efficient. More suited for network in office.

[syedwasi87]

to add some more to what others said, usually when we have dsl or cable internet or even satellite internet access, the ISP provides us with a Dynamic IP address, since IP addresses are limited, in the sense leaving the LAN IP class, like 192.x.x.x others are counted and the ISP has to pay for them.\

Hence they provide us an IP from their pool, since most of the time, we keep disconnecting etc.

Static IP's are usually used by ISP or web hosts, or dedicated servers, since for a server on a dynamic IP its very difficult to be accessed remotely, though it can be done, but its not reliable way of doing it.

[Hazel]

That's exactly.
Dynamic IP address is more useful when you work in a LAN. Accessing internet using dynamic IP is much easier and efficient. More suited for network in office.

I beg to differ. There are no advantages to using a dynamic ip.

A static ip costs more, but it is better. It means no one else will use your ip.

[Nick]

Dynamic IP address is given by dynamic host configuration protocol (DHCP) and it is assigned on need basis when a PC is connected to network.

I would like to point out some of the advantages when dynamic IP is used:

1. Dynamic IP addresses are reuseable so it allows many more PCs to use internet or other network.
2. Dynamic IP address needs no configuration when you move your PC to other subnetwork.
3.Dynamic IP address offers better security since your IP address gets changed everytime when you connect to the network.
4. It's a boon for network adminstrator as he need not assign a unique IP address to each computer due to the constant update of dynamic IP addresses by the software.

[saubryn]

Dynamic IPs are a much more convenient way to run a network - as long as the network is set up properly the situation where two machines are trying to use the same IP won't arise.

The only problem with dynamic IPs is for the user if they want to run a server on their machine, but you can get around that by using a service such as dyndns which gives you a special address to use to connect to your machine, and is updated with your new IP each time you reconnect.

[Hazel]

Dynamic IPs are a much more convenient way to run a network - as long as the network is set up properly the situation where two machines are trying to use the same IP won't arise.

The only problem with dynamic IPs is for the user if they want to run a server on their machine, but you can get around that by using a service such as dyndns which gives you a special address to use to connect to your machine, and is updated with your new IP each time you reconnect.

Why are they a more convenient way to run a network? There is no factual backing for that claim! If anything, a dynamic ip is a disadvantage.

[JenniP]

Its more convient because you dont have to allocate an IP to each machine, just DHCP do it for you, personally I cheat a bit, get DHCP to allocate a IP, then fix the IP to the machine for a couple of them. Makes life easier when the internal DNS doesnt work.

Jen

[Hazel]

Its more convient because you dont have to allocate an IP to each machine, just DHCP do it for you, personally I cheat a bit, get DHCP to allocate a IP, then fix the IP to the machine for a couple of them. Makes life easier when the internal DNS doesnt work.

Jen

I think we're referring to different things here. The ip of a machine on the network is different to the overall ip assigned to the connection.