Which IP-address did we get ?


If your TCP/IP Properties have been configured to :
obtain an IP address automatically“:


For your TCP/IP network to work, you must get an IP-address :
Without an IP-address, your network will not work !
There are different systems acting as DHCP-server :
– a network server (like : Windows NT4/2000 server configured with DHCP-server )
– hardware routers
– software routers ( Microsoft Internet Connection Sharing ICS host or 3rd Party solutions )
IP-Auto-Configuration as integrated with Windows98/ME/2000/XP :
an IP-address is generated from the range 169.254.x.y (where the x.y is generated randomly),subnet-mask : 255.255.0.0


If you are using/intend to use “obtain an IP address automatically“, please do NOT reply
on it without verifying, that you did get an IP-address assigned.
Please, verify, that you got a valid IP-address :
if you got :

0.0.0.0 -> you did not get any IP-address !
169.254.x.x. -> your system could not locate a DHCP server and used the Auto-IP-Configuration
if you are trying to connect to a server, this is then an indicator that you have a
problem connecting to the server, you should check the cabling.

To check the IP-address, use on the Start-menu the RUN-command to execute “winipcfg
(on Windows95/98/ME, on
Windows XP, check the status, or on Windows NT4/2000/XP, use : “ipconfig” ) :


Select from the drop-down your network adapter :

(often, the PPP-Adapter for the Internet connection via
modem is the first selection in the list).
Verify, that values are listed for IP-address and
Subnet Mask.
If the IP-address and Subnet Mask are listed with
“0.0.0.0”, then there is NO IP-address assigned
(no DHCP-server on the network and/or the
IP-Auto-Configuration did not work )

and without an IP-address, TCP/IP networking
does NOT work !


Like NT4 and Windows2000, you can open a
Command-Prompt windows and type : ipconfig
Or in the “Network Connections” view for the
network connection the “Status” :
– right-click your connection and select from the
Context / Popup menu : Status

select the tab : “Support
where you will find the information:
– the IP-address, subnet mask and Gateway information
– was the IP-address assigned manually, via DHCP, automatic
example for an IP-address assigned by a DHCP-server :
– address Type : Assigned by DHCP
Most DHCP-server assign more than just the IP-address,
Subnet-mask and gateway address.
Click on the button “Details” to get all information displayed.
window “Network Configuration Details”:
– Physical Address ( MAC-address )
– IP-address and Subnet-mask
– Default Gateway
– DHCP-server
– DNS Server


On Windows NT4, Windows 2000
and Windows XP, open a Command
Prompt window and type : ipconfig
If your IP-address is shows as
0.0.0.0, then you have not (yet?)
received an IP-address.
On Windows 2000/XP, it may
take up to a minute after a reboot,
until an IP-address is assigned via
Auto-IP-Configuration.

example : No IP-address (yet) assigned
Windows IP Configuration
Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . :
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . . . .:
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . . . . :

0.0.0.0
0.0.0.0

if the IP-address is not defined
manually and if no DHCP-server
is found, then Windows98/ME
and Windows 2000/XP will
assign an IP-address via
Auto-IP-Configuration

example : IP-address assigned via Auto-IP-Configuration :
Windows IP Configuration
Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Autoconfiguration IP Address.. . . :
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . . . .:
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . . . . :

169.254.4.69
255.255.0.0
There is no special indication,
when an IP-address was
assigned by a DHCP-server.

example : IP-address assigned via DHCP-server :
Windows IP Configuration
Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
IP Address… . . . . . . . . . . . . . . :
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . . . .:
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . . . . :

192.168.1.100
255.255.255.0
192.168.1.10

Much more information is displayed , when typing : “ipconfig /all” :

It will list :
– Physical address (MAC-address)
– IP-address and subnet mask
– default Gateway
– DHCP-server and Lease information (obtained and when it will expire )
– …..
– ……


ipconfig” can do much more than display the TCP/IP settings.
Like with all Microsoft command-line utilities, you can display help by “ipconfig /? ” :

ipconfig” can also be used to release an IP-address and/or to Renew an IP-address :
request a new IP-address from a DHCP-server.

About The Author

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Scroll to Top