IP Addresses : What they are and how to find yours

The IP or Internet Protocol is responsible transmitting each chunk of data from one system to another. Think of it like you own house address. It is the address given to your computer when you go online showing where you are located on the network. This makes it easy for you to connect to other computers over the internet and send and receive information.

There are two formats to the IP address. One is using numerical code, what you are shown when you look up your own IP on your computer, e.g. 198.137.231.1 The other is in English words, which most web pages use, e.g. www.blueyonder.co.uk. Both these formats will take you to the same destination and since it is often easier to remember the name rather than the numbers, most web pages use the names for easier access.

Finding your IP address

This bit it pretty easy. Just go into your start menu and select run. Then type winipcfg (or if you are using Windows NT, type ipconfig). This will then open a window showing all the details related to your assigned IP address. The major information you will need will be you IP address, which should be in the form of 213.48.*.*, 194.*.*.*, etc. Sometimes you may also be required to give details of your DNS (Domain Name Server - the address used by ISP's to internet activity, namely web and mail) which is also found in here.

Below it what you will see when you run winipcfg (may look slightly different for Windows NT):

view sample screen shot

To find what DNS you are on, simply press the "More button" found at the bottom of the screen (above) and you will see this:

view sample screen shot

When DNS fails, web sites cannot be located and email and news message delivery halts.

Last Amended : 2002-08-31 by elfin
Original Author : Nicola