What is a static IP address for?

Question

I am switching phone companies and the new one says they offer a free static ip address. What is this for?

Answer 1

Its for things such as people who host websites and ftp servers at home. That way, every time they connect to t'internet their IP address will be the same i.e. the address people would use to connect to the website or ftp address would be the same each time.

If the IP Address is dynamically assigned then it can change each time you connect meaning any people using your services need to be told the new address.

Not something to worry about if you're just a 'normal' home user...

Answer 2

It means that it stays the same for your computer. Normally, you might get a dynamic IP address and it could change as you're online or every time your computer goes online... it's mainly used for computers that host something on the internet.

Example: google.com is actually 64.233.187.99 but you don't need to know that (the whole purpose of naming IPs or DNS), but if that number changed and the people who route google.com DO need to know that... so Google would not want an IP that changes to, say, 63.223.143.78 because then when people type in Google.com and it used to be 64.233.187.99 and it's now 63.223.143.78 people would get the dreaded 404 File Not Found error or something worse...

Bottom line... you don't need it unless you're hosting something or running some type of application that needs a static (unchanging) IP address.

Answer 3

When you run your own FTP or email servers, static IP address is used, so you can always login to the same IP, with dynamic IP, it changes each time you switch off the modem, some ISP will retain it for a while, but you will never be sure how long and when.

Answer 4

It means that your IP address will remain fixed as opposed to a Dynamic IP address which changes from time to time.

You may want to ask the ISP if there is a cost to change a Static IP address down the road should you need to.

More info at the link below:

Answer 5

If you have a server that needs inbound traffic when you are not in a session with the source of that traffic you need a static address. An example would be an Exchange server for email.

The carrier likes to assign addresses dynamically because, by definition, he does not have to commit the address block 24/7 to one user and hence needs less equipment. This approach is essentially like time-sharing your home street address. You will also notice the marketing in this because "dynamic" sounds so much zippier than "static".

Answer 6

It means that they assign an IP addrss to your computer. It means that you will always have the same IP address when online. There are those who can trace by IP addresses.

It is beneficial for companies rather than small end user as you can type in a specific IP address and you can then log into that computer (server usually).

Answer 7

it's for your internet service.

Static Ip address is a ip adress that does not change.

For instance, if you were to goto www.yahoo.com
and if yahoo had a dynamic address, everytime yahoo changes it's ip adress people will not be able to go to yahoo.com until yahoo changes the settings.

So since yahoo.com has a static ip address, everyone can go in and out of yahoo.com with out experiencing "page not load" error.

Well.. since yahoo has different ip address for traffic issues, but that's a whole differenct, complicated, boring, geeky, story but whatever I wrote up their is the basics.


So if your not running your own web server, or a game server, you really don't need one.

Answer 8

in case you wold want to run OWA, a internet server, or element any inner service "externally" to the internet ~ you want a static IP. Its like your telephone huge type that's indexed in the telephone e book. With a dynamic IP you ought to furnish your # out to anybody that needs to connect because of the fact it differences each and every of the time. With a static you are able to sign in it and characteristic DNS archives element your URL on your IP.