IP Addresses

[dlbpharmd]

Could someone explain IP addresses to me, and answer a few questions?

1) Are IP addresses specific to the computer, or to the physical location of that computer? Do I have an IP address for my laptop AND my desktop?

2) Can IP addresses be traced to a physical location?

[lucimay]

Could someone explain IP addresses to me, and answer a few questions?

1) Are IP addresses specific to the computer, or to the physical location of that computer? Do I have an IP address for my laptop AND my desktop?

2) Can IP addresses be traced to a physical location?

1) yes your ip address is specific to your computer so it can be identified by your gateway. (DNS) ip addresses are assigned in "ranges", you can't have 2 computers with the exact same ip address operating at the same time

2) they DO describe the physical location as they are assigned regionally, your country, state, city. broadband addresses are static addresses, they remain constant, dial up addresses are randomized each time you sign in.
ip addresses are assigned by your DHCP (from your internet provider)

[Creator]

Could someone explain IP addresses to me, and answer a few questions?

1) Are IP addresses specific to the computer, or to the physical location of that computer? Do I have an IP address for my laptop AND my desktop?

2) Can IP addresses be traced to a physical location?

IP addresses are specific to an Internet connection. They come in basically two flavors, static addresses, specific to a connection and never changing. Dynamic addresses, specific to a connection and may change from one connect to another (but they don't have too.) If you have a home network, the router establishes a sub net and maintains addresses for each connection in your house (desktop, laptop, network printer, etc.) To the outside world, ALL devices in your home look like ONE IP address. Your gateway router keeps it straight.

To your specific questions. Yes, your laptop and desktop have different IP addresses. [But as I described above, at home those differences may be known only by your gateway router. Your ISP (AOL, etc) see ALL your devices as ONE address.

An IP address can be linked to a specific phisical locations only if the IP is a static address and the ISP maintains the physical address and the physical address given is correct.

TECHIES at the Watch can correct my inaccuracies!!

[Fist and Faith]

I like bright, shiney things.

[Vain]

IP addresses generally can't locate you specifically but they can locate your ISP etc. My ISP manages to do some cool whizz-bang stuff to my IP address so it's nary impossible to trace me accurately

[Loredoctor]

IP addresses generally can't locate you specifically but they can locate your ISP etc. My ISP manages to do some cool whizz-bang stuff to my IP address so it's nary impossible to trace me accurately

Same.