Should I give each computer a fixed IP address

[**Developer**]

Given an Ethernet LAN with a Cable Modem, Router, switches and computers.

Should I give each computer a fixed IP address or
let them Obtain an IP address automatically.


Thanks

 

[Bob I]

Enable DHCP on the router, it's much simpler.

 

[GTS]

Automatic is simpler and generally preferable except when there's a specific
need for a static address.

 

[Jonas Islander]

Given an Ethernet LAN with a Cable Modem, Router, switches and computers.

Should I give each computer a fixed IP address or
let them Obtain an IP address automatically.

Letting the computers obtain IP addresses automatically is easier (you
don't have to keep a manual list of computers and addresses).
So go with that, unless you have any special reason to assign addresses
manually.

Exception: you want your servers and gateways (routers) to have fixed IP
addresses, so the clients will find them even if your DHCP and DNS
servers go down temporarily.

 

[Guest]

How many computers do you have? If only a couple, I'd go ahead and assign
them an IP address just so you will know what each one is when it comes time
to troubleshoot problems. If not, have your router run DHCP(if it can).
Really just a matter of what you prefer and how you want to setup your
network.

 

[Z]

Given an Ethernet LAN with a Cable Modem, Router, switches and computers.

Should I give each computer a fixed IP address or
let them Obtain an IP address automatically.

That depends.

 

[Don Taylor]

Given an Ethernet LAN with a Cable Modem, Router, switches and computers.

Should I give each computer a fixed IP address or
let them Obtain an IP address automatically.

One book on DSL claimed that using automatic address allocation was
somewhat more secure. The claim was that any little net vandal out
there trying to hijack your system had a slightly harder time if you
used automatic allocation because he would not have a single ip
address to hammer on all day long, the address might keep changing
and he wouldn't know for sure what one to hammer on.

Given all the other gaping security holes in software, I'm not sure
how much, if any, this really buys you.

I actually began asking if I could buy a little box with a connector
on each end and a toggle switch on top. When I wasn't going to be
using the net for the next 12 hours I would just flip the switch
and that would disconnect the net cable. Let's see some little net
vandal figure out a way to flip that switch using a Microsoft bug.
Unfortunately I haven't found a supplier for this toggle switch box.
And plugging and unplugging the cable a few dozen times would
probably end up ruining either the cable or the jack.

 

[**Developer**]

Thanks to all of you for the good answers