TCP/IP properties page

[Mike Hyndman]

I have two identical Dell laptops both running XP Pro + all updates, one
shows only one TCP/IP properties dialogue box labled General; the second
PC ha two TCP/IP properties dialogue boxes, labled Geneal and Alternate
Configuration. Does anybody know why this is so?
TIA
Mike H

 

[george]

I have two identical Dell laptops both running XP Pro + all updates, one
shows only one TCP/IP properties dialogue box labled General; the second
PC ha two TCP/IP properties dialogue boxes, labled Geneal and Alternate
Configuration. Does anybody know why this is so?
TIA
Mike H

The one showing two pages has it's IP configuration set to "Automatically
assign".
THe Alternate page is then added so you define a specific alternate
configuration.
Can come in handy if you have a laptop usually hooked up to the company
network and maybe a dial-in when working at home and no (company)DHCP server
can be found.
If you manually configure the IP configuration, the alternate tab will
disappear.
george

 

[Mike Hyndman]

Thanks George,
I realise that, what I am asking is why does one PC show only one
dialogue box yet its twin shows two.
MikeH

 

[george]

inline...

Thanks George,
I realise that, what I am asking is why does one PC show only one
dialogue box yet its twin shows two.

unless I misunderstand you, one machine shows one property dialog because it
is *not* set to 'automatically assigned';
the other is showinf two, because it *is* set to 'automatically assigned'.
The appearance of the second dialog box is 'dynamic', ie. when general is
set on 'automatic' the second one is there., otherwise it is not.

hth ?

george

 

[Mike Hyndman]

Thanks again George
You got it!though why two pages are required for alternate TCP/IP
configs when set to Auto is a mystery. It would seem more logical to
have an alternate option when the first page is set to "specified", then
for whatever reason (on a specified TCP/IP WiFi connection was not
available for example) it would select the alternate "dynamic" page and
configure accordingly.

unless I misunderstand you, one machine shows one property dialog because it
is *not* set to 'automatically assigned';
the other is showinf two, because it *is* set to 'automatically assigned'.
The appearance of the second dialog box is 'dynamic', ie. when general is
set on 'automatic' the second one is there., otherwise it is not.

hth ?

george

many thanks
Mike H

 

[george]

Actually Mike,

It is the other way around.
Imagine if you will, the more or less 'standard' way of using machines
(laptops notably) in a company environment and being allowed to take it home
to do 'distance-working' or other stuff.
In companies it is very common to use automatically assigned IP addresses
via DHCP, so the network card would be configured as such.
Now comes the problem.
You're at home and that company-DHCP server is no good to you for your home
network, so you won't get an address assigned then.
In comes the 'alternate' possibility.
Here's where you would define your 'home-network-address' and all would be
well in both locations, company and home, without you having to muck about
with re-configuration of the TCP/IP stack, depending on the location you
happen to be in.
Don't forget, MS built this stuff with companie-setups in mind and not
necessarily the individual home-user's one.

george

 

[Mike Hyndman]

Thanks George,

Actually Mike,

It is the other way around.
Imagine if you will, the more or less 'standard' way of using machines
(laptops notably) in a company environment and being allowed to take it home
to do 'distance-working' or other stuff.
In companies it is very common to use automatically assigned IP addresses
via DHCP, so the network card would be configured as such.

where I work (under funded school 8-() the TCP/IP addresses are
specified, so there is only the general config page available.

Now comes the problem.
You're at home and that company-DHCP server is no good to you for your home
network, so you won't get an address assigned then.

My WiFi router does just that. So when I come home I have to switch to
assign automatically, which then loses all the selected settings, very
useful, not! I could configure my home router similarly to my work's
setting I suppose, but it would mean changing the DNS server settings
every time I changed location.

In comes the 'alternate' possibility.
Here's where you would define your 'home-network-address' and all would be
well in both locations, company and home, without you having to muck about
with re-configuration of the TCP/IP stack, depending on the location you
happen to be in.
Don't forget, MS built this stuff with companie-setups in mind and not
necessarily the individual home-user's one.

Still think it would be more useful to two config pages, one specified
and one dynamic.
Many thanks George for clearing things up.
Mike H