Your IP Address is 38.107.179.241

"How do I change my IP address?"

One of the most common questions of Internet users is "How do I change my IP address?".  The following technique should work for most users but if not, please visit the Change IP Address forum for assistance.

Method One:

Before you do anything else, reboot your router by turning it off and unplugging the power cord for five minutes. In the majority of cases, this simple step will reset your IP address.  In some cases, you may have to leave the router unplugged for 8 hours to get the IP address to reset successfully.

Method Two:

If resetting your router doesn't change your IP address , match your configuration with one of the situations listed below and attempt to change your IP address using the outlined recommendations. These methods will usually resolve the problem but if your IP address still does not change, you may need to contact your ISP because the problem may be in their DHCP configuration.

Windows - Computer connected directly to the modem

Bring up a command prompt by clicking START, Run, cmd or type cmd.exe in your run menu.

Once you have opened a command prompt:

Type "ipconfig /release" (without the quotes, on the command line by itself).

Type "ipconfig /renew" (without the quotes, on the command line by itself).

Windows (second option) - Computer connected directly to the modem

Open the command prompt. (START, run, cmd).

Type "ipconfig /release" (without the quotes).

Shut down computer.

Turn off all Ethernet hubs/switches.

Turn off cable/DSL modem.

Leave everything turned off overnight.

Turn everything back on and your IP address should be reset.

Network with Router

Log into the router's admin console. (In most cases, the default router IP is http://192.168.1.1/)

Release the IP address. (Consult your router manufacturers suggestions)

Turn off router, Ethernet hubs/switches, and the cable/DSL modem.

Leave off overnight.

Turn everything back on.

For those who are using cable/DSL modems with a router, disconnecting the router and plugging your computer directly into the cable/DSL modem may be helpful.  This method leaves your system open to security risks but it is usually a quick fix for getting the ISP's DHCP system to issue you a new IP address based on the MAC address of your computer's Ethernet card.

If your IP address still has not changed and you have access to your router, look for a "Clone MAC Address" option. A last resort option, this service will only allow one attempt in most cases but it should change your IP address.

These methods may not work in every case. If your IP address does not change, it is most likely something to do with your ISP.  Contact your ISP and ask them to change your IP address. They may be able to reset the IP address automatically or they can tell you how long your connection needs to be off for your IP address to change.

If your IP address is causing problems with online forums, you may be able to circumvent the problem by configuring your internet browser to use a proxy server. For information on proxy servers, please see the following FAQ's.

FAQ: What is a proxy server?

FAQ: How do I use a proxy server?

If this information is not enough to resolve your issues, please visit the Change IP Address forum for further assistance and information.

Footnote:

There are rumors of IP Changer programs that can change your IP address.  Our research has not yielded any programs that deliver consistent results. If you find an IP address changer program that works, please share it with us.

Lookup Of Host Name

Using the Host Name lookup tool will do a search exactly as the name describes. When you enter the IP address, the name of the host is provided in the results. This tool is easy to use and provides you with the host name information on any given IP address.

The Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol

The Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol or DHCP is a programming protocol that evaluates whether an IP is static or dynamic. The use of the term dynamic in the phrase DHCP can create some confusion, however, it is simply a matter of recognizing that the inclusion of the word dynamic doesn't mean that it cannot be a static IP. Having DHCP enabled on your computer will reflect the fact that you're using a DHCP server for assigning IP addresses, however that server could equally assign a static IP. DHCP enabling on your PC doesn't automatically mean that the server in use is a DHCP server.

What happens on a home network is that a router can act as a DHCP server, however it is not a true DHCP server. When you utilize a true DHCP server (not a router), then this provides the LAN administrator with far greater control over the assigning of IP addresses.

In order to understand this better, take a moment to reflect on any actions you've carried out on a network. If you've used a networked printer, then you may have thought about how that printer knows and 'remembers' to print your documents. The IP address that your request to print from can be one reason why your work goes to a particular printer. A DHCP is controlling the routing of information and to do this it assigned network devices with MAC addresses. In order that your action (printing) goes to the right piece of network equipment, a static IP is assigned by the DHCP server to a specific MAC address. Hence, the use of the same IP address by the network printer will always occur, even if it reboots. This is to save the constant reassignment of addresses and so that the network functions smoothly.

The control of IP addresses means that all ISPs will most likely have a DHCP server. This allows the provider to assign IPs by modem addresses. When your modem is online and communicating with the provider's server, it will start seeking out an IP address over which to transmit and receive information. The modem sends the data about it's MAC address to the DHCP server and a reserved IP address is used or a suitable address is assigned.

Routers and DHCP - In order to understand the basics, take a look in the General Setup or LAN Setup tab in your router. In this area, you'll find the settings option for the DHCP. You are able to take control of the number of IPs that are assigned, plus you'll be able to regulate the level of server resources that are reserved for your usage. By disabling this IP address allocation process, you'll need to begin statically assigning IPs or add a proxy type DHCP server to the network. Note that this applies to both wireless and wired networks, as all network connections will have an IP address.

Understanding DHCP can be complicated and there is significantly more to know than the basics that are touched upon here.