My Home Computer IP Address Keeps Changing

[Jason Saffer]

Hi all,

I've recently started accessing my home XP system from my work laptop using
XP's remote access. All is working fine, except that my home computer, on
the Comcast cable modem, has a dynamic (versus static) IP address that keeps
changing every day or so. I've asked Comcast tech support about this and
they say I don't really have an option -- they change IP addresses as a
matter of routine. My workaround thus far has been to check at the beginning
of each day, before leaving home, what my current IP address is -- and then
hope it doesn't change during the workday!

Are there any other options I've got so that I can keep the same IP address
permanently?

One other question:

When I read Microsoft's online directions about remote access, it seems to
say that I can use either my computer's IP address when trying to access
remotely, or I can use my computer's specific computer name, which starts
out with Db0....

But when I just enter the computer name and not the IP address, I can't
connect remotely from the office. It can't find my computer.

Any ideas on what I can do to correct this? I figured if I can get the
remote access by just using my computer name, I won't have to be concerned
about the changing IP address.

Thanks for any help on this!

.....Jason

 

[Robert L [MS-MVP]]

In this case, you may want to use DDNS (dynamic DNS). This search result may help,

DDNS My DDNS log lists error "nohost" My DDNS log lists error "! yours" My Linksys router show "DDNS Server Update is successful" but no one can ping it ...
www.chicagotech.net/ddns.htm


Bob Lin, MS-MVP, MCSE & CNE
Networking, Internet, Routing, VPN Troubleshooting on http://www.ChicagoTech.net
How to Setup Windows, Network, VPN & Remote Access on http://www.HowToNetworking.com
Hi all,

I've recently started accessing my home XP system from my work laptop using
XP's remote access. All is working fine, except that my home computer, on
the Comcast cable modem, has a dynamic (versus static) IP address that keeps
changing every day or so. I've asked Comcast tech support about this and
they say I don't really have an option -- they change IP addresses as a
matter of routine. My workaround thus far has been to check at the beginning
of each day, before leaving home, what my current IP address is -- and then
hope it doesn't change during the workday!

Are there any other options I've got so that I can keep the same IP address
permanently?

One other question:

When I read Microsoft's online directions about remote access, it seems to
say that I can use either my computer's IP address when trying to access
remotely, or I can use my computer's specific computer name, which starts
out with Db0....

But when I just enter the computer name and not the IP address, I can't
connect remotely from the office. It can't find my computer.

Any ideas on what I can do to correct this? I figured if I can get the
remote access by just using my computer name, I won't have to be concerned
about the changing IP address.

Thanks for any help on this!

....Jason

 

[Sooner Al [MVP]]

Well, one option is to use a dynamic naming service like No-IP.com that maps
a fully qualified domain name (FQDN) or alias if you will to your ISPs
assigned IP address. A small program runs on your PC and contacts the
No-IP.com servers every so often (configurable). The servers then know what
your current IP is and map that to the FQDN. That information is propagated
over the public internet. You simply call home using the FQDN. I do that to
access my home LAN with OpenVPN or SSH, ie. use a No-IP.com FQDN. It works
very well.

http://www.no-ip.com

If your calling over a local LAN use the PCs NetBIOS name or local private
LAN IP address.

If your calling over the public internet use the public IP, as assigned by
your ISP, or a FQDN. Note that if the PC is behind a firewall/router then
you also need TCP Port 3389 open for Remote Desktop.

http://theillustratednetwork.mvps.org/RemoteDesktop/RemoteDesktopSetupandTroubleshooting.html

--
Al Jarvi (MS-MVP Windows Networking)

Please post *ALL* questions and replies to the news group for the
mutual benefit of all of us...
The MS-MVP Program - http://mvp.support.microsoft.com
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no
rights...

 

[Linn Kubler]

Hi,

A friend of mine recently told me about logmein.com. It's a remote access
application that runs over the Internet. It looks like they do have a free
version too. I haven't used this myself but my buddy seems to like it. He
said it runs over port 80 which means no messing with router settings. You
might want to check it out. If you do let me know how it goes.

Hope that helps,
Linn

 

[Jason Saffer]

Dear Linn and All,

Thanks for all the responses. They're very helpful. I'm trying out the
logmein.com program. I've installed it on my home machine and successfully
used it today to remotely access my home machine from my work laptop. You
log on to their website with your e-mail address and password, it shows the
computer(s) you've registered with it, and then you can access your home
system, enter your home system's XP password and you're in. So far, it works
fine -- although Comcast hasn't changed my dynamic IP address yet today, so
I don't know for sure how it will work once the IP address is changed. But,
logmein seems to only need the Computer Name (versus the IP address) to
access remotely.

Here's what I'm wondering about: how secure is this connection? In other
words, am I running more of a risk using an Internet based remote program
versus XP's remote access feature? I'd appreciate input about that piece of
it.

Thanks very much.

Jason

 

[Sooner Al [MVP]]

Remote Desktop is natively encrypted. In addition some folks, including
myself, run Remote Desktop through VPN or Secure Shell (SSH) tunnels for
added security including strong authentication using certificates and/or
private/public key pairs protected by strong passwords/pass phrases.

In my case I use OpenVPN to access my home LAN and for remote access/control
of my XP Pro desktops.

http://theillustratednetwork.mvps.org/OpenVPN/OpenVPN.html

I have used SSH (copSSH and Tunnelier) in the past...

http://theillustratednetwork.mvps.org/Ssh/SecureShell.html

Personally I don't like to run remote access programs through third-party
servers that are out of my control and really don't see a need to...

--
Al Jarvi (MS-MVP Windows Networking)

Please post *ALL* questions and replies to the news group for the
mutual benefit of all of us...
The MS-MVP Program - http://mvp.support.microsoft.com
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no
rights...

 

[Linn Kubler]

I tend to agree, I'm always suspicious when I'm asked to give a 3rd party
access to a system or systems. In this case I only set it up on a spare
computer, not my main system, and when I don't expect to use it I leave it
turned off. The main appeal to me was the fact that it doesn't require a
static IP address to function.

However, a week or two ago I had dissabled the service, just cause I don't
like services running that aren't necessary, and when I tried to reinable it
this morning the hard drive crashed. Now this is a used eMachine that I
picked up as scrap with a bad hard drive and bad power supply fan. I
replaced the power supply and the hard drive but I don't recall if it was a
new hard drive or an old one I had laying around. This happened just as I
was heading into work and couldn't spend any time troubleshooting.

It may be a coincidence that the hard drive choked just when I
double-clicked the logmein icon or it may not. I'll know more tonight I
think.

Thanks,
Linn