What’s Better: Dynamic or Static IP Address?
The IP address. Your gateway to the Internet. That little set of numbers that guarantees you can log on and check mail, watch videos, etc. This is something I only used to bother about when my Internet connection stopped working and I needed to check if there was a problem from my end.
All this while, my ISP had assigned me a static IP address. Then, a few days ago, someone from the ISP called me up asking me to change some settings. Turns out they are now assigning dynamic IPs to their users.
While my Internet experience hasn't really changed significantly, I got curious about the merits and demerits of both types of IP addresses. From what I've gleaned so far, the type of IP address doesn't matter for the average home user. However, if you run some kind of server like Web, FTP, Email etc. then you definitely need a static IP address. I'm still not sure which one is better though so I'd like to get ghacks readers' opinions on the subject.
What kind of IP address do you use? Have you ever had problems and had to switch? What advantages and disadvantages have you noticed with dynamic and static IP addresses? Let me know in the comments.
Update: Static IP addresses are important if you run some kind of services from a computer. They ensure that the service is always reachable at the same address, while dynamic IP addresses prevent that from happening. There are privacy implications though, as it is a lot easier to identify people using a static IP address than people who do not.
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Dynamic DNS is use for large group area who are connecting with the INTERNET.
Static DNS is use for small group area where internet is connecting.
frnds i wanna use torrent client like bittorrent and i use BSNL’s Wireless service but problem is thi dat speed is extra slow as llike 3~5 KBps.
also i wanna to know that is dat anything ehich means a IP can be sharebable as for ex Is it possible dat BSNL client here opt an IP and let there customers to use internet on that single IP
can more than 1 pc or person be conneced to internet with a same IP to connect internet
and every time i visit rapid share or demonoid it says u reached ur limit. but i do not even ever dwnload a torrent or file from daat site
help me guys
and do tell me how can i use torrent best
hello guys
what if i want to access a computer connected in LAN through Internet having ISP ip 117.223.85.155 and LAN add 192.168.1.129 port no 2055.
you freaks! of course a static ip leaves you vulnerable to hitchhiker moles that can watch all your traffic with the proper script bots! (best start encrypting those emails!)
:) thnx xdmv….
Ummm does it work at client side…like client trying to get more download rate than it was assigned. Well, if it is possible; then how could it be done? and also how to avoid such client’s behavior.can anyone suggest me curbing techniques?
> Destinova…
To increase the speed you can implement a Proxy Server & Web Cache (Squid, etc.).
To control the speed (upload/download) of any client you can manage that with Traffic Shaping technique (via software || hardware).
Just like any ISP do…
Hope this help.
Regards!
Can someone tell me how to increase the speed of my Internet, I’m using LAN based Internet with static IP, I just wanted to know whether there is any s/w that finds the download rate of any client on my LAN. So that i can use that system’s IP n all stuff to improve my download rate. If there is no such kind of software can anyone tell me the alternate procedure to increase my Internet speed…
I think some of you are confusing NAT and Dynamic IP’s. Dynamic IP’s are no different then Static IP’s, both loose some usefulness if they are not internet routable by either being NAT’d or behind a firewall. Dynamic IP’s once given are logged by the mac address and the time given. Don’t be fooled that changing your ip address is somehow going to shield you from being found. It might provide a speed bump. How do you think the RIAA gets peoples names? They get a judge to approve an ISP to translate an ip address at a certain time to the owner of the connection. Also think about Comcast’s bandwidth caps, How could they do that unless they could track your usage directly to your home address. Unless you route your traffic through one of more relays or use a throw away wifi card at a public access point, you can be found.
On internal LANs every computer and device (printers, cameras, storage, bckps, etc.) has an static IP, but it is assigned dinamically.
That way helps me a lot managing entire LAN just from one server.
Hope my experience helps.
Since I’m web-based game administrator I hate dynamic IP, because it makes people feel unpublishable :| I ban their IP, and they’re back in 5mins with new IP :(
I have a dynamic address at home, which is fine because I just use no-ip to connect to my computers, and I have a terastation which basically acts as FTP server.
For me its DYNAMIC: As I can really play on the internet… ;-)
Static is not at all useful for we guys and I guess only hosts and corporates will need that.
I read your site often as I find it very interesting and have often used your solutions. Thanks.
So on the note of Dynamic or Static. I would be willing to agree with one user who said it increases your privacy. If you have a static IP you are easily pinpointable, however this is a minute increase as most ISPs tend to (or are even required to) keep logs.
If you do not run any servers static is useless. Someone mentioned that it was good for gaming and bittorrent but that is completely wrong there is nothing one there at all, except for the idea of a server. Which many of your savvy readers have noted there are plenty of dynamic IP sites that offer a DNS solution for your dynamic IP (Which is not going to be as dynamic as you would think. You may end up with the same IP for up to a month depending on your ISP).
The person who is complaining about having to run another program for dynamic dns needs to get a WRT54G router or anything that can run dd-wrt that is built right into the software (and even non custom firmware for routers).
Basically through free services and some of the other solutions outlined above a dynamic IP address gains you almost nothing. Unless you want to run a .com type of site (Which a lot of ISPs will not allow regardless if you have a static or not unless you pay more) and don’t want to always have to wait for the DNS to propagate and update (TTL is typically an hour or so).
Hope that helps.
Dynamic IP is less vulnerable :D that’s what I think because nobody can guess your IP.
Mine is dynamic with a very long TTL assigned to it. My IP only renews it about every 4 to 6 months. I run a web server and mail server and use GoDaddy forwarding.
I really prefer having Static IP because I can connect directly from anywhere without having to install another program like no-ip to do the connexion mapping.
But Really for the most simple users the Dynamic is better and cheaper for the ISPs too
I like dynamic better because of being able to change the IP by reconnecting to the internet.
If you’re going to host a server or something, do what I do, and get something like no-ip.org.
Easier to remember then a static IP too.
I’ve had ISP’s which gave ‘dynamic’ IP’s, however it generally only changed about once once per 1.5 years…
in other words, not a problem at all.
The same is valid for my last ISP’s. My IP doesn’t really change more than once per year, which is fine with me.
(1)i use dhcp ip addressing,the main disadvatage they are usually private ip’s,which makes difficult to download from rapidshare where many use similar private ips under a single public ip.
(2)Recent attacks of militants in india,where they enter the wireless router which are under dhcp server,get ips without any logins creating illegal mails.
My ISP has slightly flakey DHCP servers. Perhaps once every couple of months, they just stop responding over a period of a few hours.
Hence, for my ISP, my static IPs avoid one potential potential failure point.
I think static IP offers a better way of configuration on different OS, without to rely on the annoying dial-up like connection method.
Users with dynamic web address can run web, ftp etc servers with some nice site that is called http://www.dyndns.com. Btw, i use dynamic dns.
If you don’t have static IP you can always use free DNS service and update a domain name to point to your new IP instantly. And you get to be able to use services that track IPs more easy :)
If you’re using static IP you can always access it and know that it’s your, but will have problems finding free (and good) proxyes for the sites that trac your IP.
And from ISP point of view dynamic IP’s are the way to go for the normal users – they assign only what they have to to whoever needs to. And its done automatically.
For corporate users they offer static by default.
actually.. static ip is (imo) only good for something like a server.. but for everything else dynamic is better.. and your privacy goes a bit up when you are on an average site that is logging ip’s for w/e reason..
For most businesses, and for all home users, it wont make a difference. Even if you have a dynamic IP and a web/ftp/p2p server, you can use free services to map a dns name to your IP (like dyndns or no-ip)
If you have a static ip and need to download from rapidshare etc, use proxies to get past the restrictions ;)
David
Actually home users can be impacted. if you have a device (camera, security panel, remote access home automatio, etc) the device may lose its conenctivity when the ip address is reallocated.
Brad
I’ve always had dynamic IP addresses.
An easy way to get a new IP address is to open a command window and type:
IPCONFIG /Release
When the command finishes, type:
IPCONFIG /Renew
A couple of good links on the advantages/disadvantages of both forms:
http://www.zytrax.com/isp/faqs/static.htm
http://apcmag.com/forum.htm?g=posts&t=752
i recently switched isp, and then all the sudden my router kept going offline and or rebooting, it would happen randomly approx every 5-20 minutes. My desktop would say IP address conflict. I comand promt the release and renew as described above. It would work for a while but then I would have the same problem in an hour. I shut all wifi devices off and shut off wifi on them and I only have a lap top and a desktop, but even with only one on., I still had the problem. I checked on my router site and not other devices or computers were connected, in case there was someone else trying to use the router. I changed the password, etc.
I just switched from dynamic to static. I am hoping that will resolve this issure finally.
IF I JUST SAY F IT AND PURCHASE A NEW ROUTER. WOULD THAT ALSO SOLVE THE PROBLEM DO YOU THINK? like if your not sure make a mathmatically probablility estimate like 75 percent sure it would resolve it.
??????????????????????I didn’t have any problems until i switched isp. but I have had this router for 2-3 years. so I should just get another one??? HELP HELP HELP
(on another note) there is absolutely no help from any tech support from net gear. they all want remote access and try to selll software. Why can’t they just make some damn suggestions on how to resolve it. like you have (very helpful) ipconfig/release in command prompt. that was awesome and provided a temp fix
For a user, dynamic is better. For a server, static IP is better.
Static IPs are better for gaming and Bittorrent but the particular reasons why I cannot recal.
Dynamic IP address is better if you download files from sites like rapidshare, megaupload, etc. Once your file is done downloading, just reset your router and you will get a new IP address meaning you can download another file.
I used to do this when I had dynamic ip address but now I am stuck with static ip address. :(
Dynamic : Helps me fool (i.e. bypass their download restrictions) site’s like rapidshare.
Also it makes more sense for the ISP, as with static ip they need to have 1 ip for 1 user, but with dynamic ip they can do with much less.