How Does A Computer Get Its IP Address?

The internet uses a system of telecommunications protocols that has become so widely used that it is now accepted as a network architecture. The internet's protocol suit is called Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol and is known as TCP/IP. An IP address can be either dynamic or static. A static address is one that you configure yourself by editing your computer's network settings. This type of address is actually rare, and it can create network issues if you use it without understanding of TCP/IP. Dynamic addresses are the most common. They are assigned by the Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol(DHCP), A service running on the network. DHCP typically runs on network hardware such as routers or dedicated DHCP servers. Dynamic IP address are issued using a leasing system , meaning that the IP address is only active for a limited time.If the lease expires, the computer will automatically request a new lease. Sometimes, this means the computer will get a new IP address, too, especially if the computer was unplugged from the network between leases. This process is usually transparent to the user unless the computer warns about an IP address conflict on the network. An address conflict is rare, and today's technology typically fixes the problem automatically.