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.