How to find your IP Address and renew your IP Address

What is my IP address?

Your IP public address is 38.103.63.61.

This IP lookup found your public IP address or the IP address of the proxy server from your Internet Service Provider (ISP), and is assigned to you by your ISP.

You can also get your public IP address by yourself. Try the following to lookup your IP address:

Find your IP address for Windows 95/98/me

1. Click Start
2. Click Run
3. Type command.com and ENTER
4. Type netstat -n in the command window

Find your IP address for Windows 2000\Xp\Vista

1. Click Start
2. Click Run
3. Type cmd and ENTER
4. Type netstat –n in the command window

Find your IP address for Mac OS X

1. Open 'system preferences'
2. Under 'Internet and network', click 'network'
3. This will show your IP address

You can compare your results against, http://www.whatismyip.com/ which is an IP lookup website that will try to find both your IP address and proxy IP address.

If you want to find out more about IP addresses, read on.

If you use a router:

Whether you are using a dialup or broadband connection, if a router is sitting between your computer and the internet, your ISP will assign your external IP address to the router, rather than to your PC, so the above method will not work. You will need to consult the router’s documentation to identify your public IP address.

If you use a dialup connection:

Each time you connect to the internet your ISP assigns you an IP address. When you disconnect your IP adress is returned to a pool of available IP addresses. Therefore your public IP address will be different each time you connect.

If you use broadband:

Your IP address might be a dynamic IP address which is assigned by a DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) server from your ISP, e.g. NTL. DHCP- is a kind of technology that dynamically assigns IP addresses to clients.

Your ISP might also assign your IP address using XDSL (x Digital Subscriber Line); e.g. BT, which uses a PPPoE (Point-to-Point Protocol over Ethernet) protocol.

Because there are insufficient public IP addresses, your ISP has to be economical with its public IP address resources. This is why, in the case of a DHCP server, for instance, it automatically checks the status of all its clients’ computers. If your computer has not been online for a while, the server will release your IP address.

So, if you have not been offline since last time you checked, your IP address may not have changed.

However, if you turn off your modem for a day or two you will probably see the IP address has changed next time you check.

You may also find that your ISP changes your IP address regularly anyway (for NTL, for instance, this seems to be about every 2 days).

How to get a free static IP address

It is also possible that your ISP might give you a static address, i.e. one that is bonded to the MAC (Media Access Control) address of your modem. This is most likely to happen if you leave your modem switched on over an extended period of time, for, say a week or more. If you need a static IP address it is well worth trying this first as some providers who charge for static IP addresses if you ask for one, will also assign you one automatically and for free if you leave your connection open for long enough.

Back to top

Related information:

How to choose a domain name...

Not found what you were looking for?

Enter your search terms Submit search form

-How to Renew an IP address-

How to renew an IP address for Windows 95/98/me

1. Click Start
2. Click Run
3. Type command.com and ENTER
4. Type winipcfg /release in the command window

Wait for DOS to process the command, and

1. Type winipcfg /renew in the command window

Wait for DOS to process the command. If your network connection is working and properly configured, your IP address should have renewed.

How to renew an IP address for Windows 2000/XP/Vista

1. Click Start
2. Click Run
3. Type cmd and ENTER
4. Type ipconfig /release in the command window

Wait for DOS to process the command, and

1. Type ipconfig /renew in the command window

Wait for DOS to process the command. If your network connection is working and properly configured, your IP address should have renewed.

How to renew an IP address for Mac OS X

1. Select 'System Preferences' from the Apple menu
2. Select 'Network' from the 'View' menu
3. Select 'Active Network Ports' from the 'Show' menu
4. Uncheck the "on" checkbox for the port you use to connect to the Internet (e.g. Built-in Ethernet or AirPort)
5. Click 'Apply Now'
6. Reselect the checkbox for the port
7. Click 'Apply Now'
8. Open up your web browser. If your IP address has renewed successfully then you should be able to connect to the Internet

How to renew an IP address for Mac OS 9

1. Open your TCP/IP control panel
2. Select 'Choose User Mode' from the 'Edit menu'
3. Click 'Advanced' radio button
4. Click 'OK'
5. Click 'Options'
6. Click the 'Inactive' radio button
7. Click 'OK'
8. Close your TCP/IP control panel
9. When prompted, click 'Save'
10. Re-Open your TCP/IP control panel
11. When prompted, click 'Yes'
12. Close your TCP/IP control panel
13. Open up your web browser. If your IP address has renewed successfully then you should be able to connect to the Internet

Related information:

How to choose a domain name...

Not found what you were looking for?

Enter your search terms Submit search form

Back to top