An IP address identifies a device on a network. It can be assigned either:
A Static IP is a manually assigned IP address that does not change over time.
GUI:
Control Panel > Network & Sharing Center > Adapter Settings
Right-click network adapter → Properties → Select IPv4 → Set IP manually.
Command Line:
netsh interface ip set address "Ethernet" static 192.168.1.100 255.255.255.0 192.168.1.1
A Dynamic IP is assigned automatically by a DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) server. It may change periodically.
Edit the interface config:
auto eth0
iface eth0 inet dhcp
Or use:
sudo dhclient eth0
| Feature | Static IP | Dynamic IP |
|---|---|---|
| Assignment | Manual | Automatic (via DHCP) |
| Changes Over Time | No | Yes |
| Setup Complexity | Higher | Minimal |
| Reliability | High | Moderate |
| Best For | Servers, printers | PCs, mobile, guests |
| Configuration Time | Longer | Instant via DHCP |
⚠️ Do not assign static IPs within the DHCP range to avoid conflicts.
📋 Keep a record of static IPs to avoid overlap.
📡 Use DHCP reservations if you want devices to get the same IP every time via MAC address.
📶 Some routers support assigning static IPs directly from the router admin panel.
DHCP – Automatically assigns IP settings to clients
MAC Address – Unique hardware ID of a network device
Default Gateway – IP address of your router
DNS – Resolves domain names into IP addresses