When a DHCP[*] server issues an address to a client, it assigns it
for a certain amount of time.  The client *may* tell the server that
it no longer needs it before that time has run out; it should start
asking to "renew the lease" when half that period has run out.  DHCP
is designed so that *in most cases* it will try to reassign the same
address to a client every time it asks, if possible.  [Some cable
modem providers may deliberately try to force it to assign new
addresses periodically, to discourage home users from running
Internet servers....]

  So odds are good that your machines will go right on being assigned
these addresses indefinitely.
  They *may* be getting other information from DHCP, however, such as
the addresses of ATT's DNS servers.  That won't happen if you assign
them static addresses, unless you also configure their DNS settings
statically.

[*] - Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol.  When you select 'Obtain
an address automatically', you are telling the machine to use this
protocol to request network configuration settings from a server --
many home routers provide this service.

David Gillett


On 28 Mar 2002, at 11:52, joseph marty wrote:

> My router is set to dynamic IP address per my ATT cable Internet
> provider. Both computers have been set forf dynamic IP addresses,
> but I guess that would not be necessary for my LAN.  One always
> logs on to the router with 192.168.2.15, and the other with
> 192.168.2.23.  Would it make a difference if I set each one for
> static IP addresses, since they are already assigned these
> addresses by the router?  If the order of boot makes a difference,
> which one should be booted first, the Win 98 with ...2.15, or the
> Win Me with ...2.23?  I don't use NETBEUI because moderator Mark
> Rode said it was completely unnecessary with TCP/IP.  I can easily
> add it, but I'll try to set each computer for static IP addresses
> using the ones the router has already given them.  Thanks for the
> suggestions, and I'll inform the list what, when, and if it works.
>
>
> >Doug and Brian already responded before I got to the message. Both are
> >possibilities. In line with what Brian wrote, if you are not using
> >static ip addressing, then the order that the computers are booted in
> >may affect their network operation. I agree that static ip would make
> >things simpler. If you are already using static, and the cables and
> >connections are good, then we can probably blame Microsoft since it
> >seems to be blamed for all computer problems anyway :)
> >
> >Peter ____________________________________________________________

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