What is a Static IP address?

[dmbtech]

What is a static IP address. i am getting a domain soon so i need to know. IS there a way to switch name servers with a static IP address?

[cheatpark]

A static ip address is an ip address that won't change when you reconnect to the internet. And I think it is possible to switch nameservers with a static ip address but I've never done it so I'm not sure.

[dmbtech]

Thanks a lot. I guess i don't really have to worry about a static ip address then!

[thewitt]

What do you mean by "switch nameservers" here?

A fixed IP address is just that - it does not change. Your ISP will give you a static IP address, you'll enter it into your network configuration on your system, and it stays that address forever.

The alternative is a dynamic IP address, that changes once in a while. Dynamic IP addresses are generally assigned by DHCP servers, and your "lease" determines how long your IP address remains the same.

If you have a dynamic IP address, you can still have a domain name - you will just need to use a dynamic DNS server. You will also need to run a dynamic DNS client on your system that tells the dynamic DNS server what your IP address is when it starts up.

Does any of this help?

-t