Is an IP address connected to my computer or the wireless network I am connected to?

Question

Thanks everyone, maybe I should explain, if I am on a forum can the admin tell its me if I use my neighbors wireless from my computer?

Answer 1

Your IP address is given to your computer from the DHCP (dynamic host control protocol) server that you are connecting to - most likely the wireless access point (built into the router) you are connecting to.  The router remembers your computer based on it's MAC (media access control) address which is hard coded into your NIC (network interface card, be it wireless or hard wired).  If the number you are looking at is a 192.168.x.x number or a 10.x.x.x number, this is the address that the router is giving you.  If the address is a 169.x.x.x number (for windows; 10.x.x.x for Macs) then you aren't connected to a DHCP server.

So to answer your question, the IP address is a represenation of your computer on the wireless network - without the wireless network, you wouldn't have the IP address.  It's a combination of the two devices (your computer and the router) that gives you the IP address - but simply put: the wireless network is what is giving you the IP address.

So if you moved to a different network - even if you happen to get the same IP address - a different router is giving you that address.  It doesn't necessarily have to be the same address, which means that the IP is MORE connected to the network than your computer.  The MAC address is the only thing that is permanently connected to your computer.

Make sense?

Answer 2

theres 2 ip addresses, an outside ip and an inside.  If your conected directly to the modem its the same address.  If you conect through a routher, you router asignes you an ip address mostlily starting 192,168.1.X.  This is you internal ip, but websites will still only reconize your exturnal ip.  If you get baned from a website, every computer in your network using the same outside ip gets banned.

Answer 3

Huh?

IP addresses are sent to the modem or router through the Internet Service Provider's DHCP server.  So if the modem/router is connected to an internet service, then the answer is yes.  If you have connected to a wireless network that is properly connected to an ISP, then yes you have an IP address.

Go to the control panel and then click on network connections, right click on the wireless network.  Click on status, then click on the support tab and you will see your IP address there.