How can you tell if your computer is going through a server or is directly connected to the internet?

Question

How can you tell if your computer is going through a server or is directly connected to the internet?

Answer 1

There has to be a server to reply to your requests

Answer 2

All the computers you connect to that give you information (including what you are looking at now) are servers.

If you are at home, you are probably not going THRU a server.  If at work, your IT department might have you setup to go THRU a server as a way to access the Internet so they have more control.

Answer 3

Visit http://whatismyip.com/

Then, if on Windows, pick Run from the start menu, type "cmd" (no quotes) and click OK, then type "ipconfig" (no quotes) and press return.

If the IP address the above website reports matches any of those which ipconfig returns, then you are connected directly to the Internet. Otherwise you have a router in the way.