What is an IP address?

Question

I just contacted my internet provider for some technical support, and he asked for my IP address. I told him I didn't know , then I could hear him questioning someone else if they were getting a reading on my IP address. What is it? Why do they need to know this anyway?I thought an IP address was like a or similar to a serial number on the hard drive.

Answer 1

Internet Protocol address. It is how your computer is found on the Internet. If you want to see your IP address go to:

Start Menu --> All programs --> accessories --> command prompt. type "ipconfig" (without the quotes) into the dos window and your computer will display its IP address.

Answer 2

An IP address (Internet Protocol address) is a unique address that devices use in order to identify and communicate with each other on a computer network utilizing the Internet Protocol standard (IP)—in simpler terms, a computer address. Any participating network device—including routers, computers, time-servers, printers, Internet fax machines, and some telephones—can have their own unique address. Also, many people can find personal information through IP addresses.

If you're contacting your ISP and they're asking you for your IP address, you can go to this website (http://whatismyipaddress.com/) and it will tell you the IP address that's currently allocated by your ISP.

Another round-about way of finding this information and if you're using a high-speed modem/router, access the admin control panel and look for the IP address that it's currently allocated by the ISP.

Answer 3

1. You can have any number of IP on one computer. Even one Ethernet card can have any number of IPs 2. does it keep the same IP address or uses a different IP address? It is you to decide to keep or change. If you move to a different network you may have to change the IP. It is like your home address. Imagine you moved your home from one town to another. 3. How do I find out what network I'm connected to? No single simple answer here. You may have to start by asking the person responsible for your network.

Answer 4

An IP address is like a street address for internet traffic. Just like if you want to send mail to someone you use their address, an IP address controls where the information gets routed to. If your ISP was testing your internet connection, they need to know how to reach you, and the only way is by IP address. Perhaps you are thinking of MAC address, which is also used to route internet traffic, when you think of a serial number. A MAC address is fixed, but is not guaranteed to be unique, hence the combination of dynamic IP address and fixed MAC address allows for unique addresses for each PC on the internet.

Answer 5

It's kind of like your computer's address on the internet -- IP stands for 'internet protocol.' Every different computer, whether a pc or a server, has to have its own IP address so that other computers know who they're talking to.

It's more complex than that, but that's the basic idea.

Answer 6

it looks like this

134.55.222.11
it's the way to identify your compin the net.

I use these IP addresses alot in Call of Duty the game, the IP addresse represents a server hosting the game. so when i click ADD SERVER.. i add an IP address of a server hosting COD games( often with MODS)

Answer 7

An IP address is an Internet Provider, like DSL, or America Online,
(AOL) ETC........

Answer 8

a lot of people already helped you, read on... think of an IP address as your internet computer passport.

Answer 9

click start .. run type in cmd click on enter then on the command box type in ipconfig .your see the ip address its too do with ur computer and internet

Answer 10

A location of a component