How to determine your IP address

July 14th, 2011 by Scott Lewis

Has someone ever asked you for your IP(Internet Protocol) address?  Many times when you are talking to a software or hardware support representative on the phone, they will ask for your IP address.  Now you will know how to get it for them without asking.  That is always helpful to the rep (having been one in the past :) ).

My defition of an IP address is like this….Think of where you live in this world.  There is no one else with your specific mailing address in the entire world.  An IP address is your specific address.  No one else in the world that has your address.

Here is the Wikipedia technical IP address definition:

An Internet Protocol address (IP address) is a numerical label assigned to each device (e.g., computer, printer) participating in a computer network that uses the Internet Protocol for communication.[1] An IP address serves two principal functions: host or network interface identification and location addressing. Its role has been characterized as follows: “A name indicates what we seek. An address indicates where it is. A route indicates how to get there.“[2]

The designers of the Internet Protocol defined an IP address as a 32-bit number[1] and this system, known as Internet Protocol Version 4 (IPv4), is still in use today. However, due to the enormous growth of the Internet and the predicted depletion of available addresses, a new addressing system (IPv6), using 128 bits for the address, was developed in 1995,[3] standardized as RFC 2460 in 1998,[4] and is being deployed worldwide since the mid-2000s.

IP addresses are binary numbers, but they are usually stored in text files and displayed in human-readable notations, such as 172.16.254.1 (for IPv4), and 2001:db8:0:1234:0:567:8:1 (for IPv6).

Here is how you determine your IP address:

  • Click the Start button
  • Click Run for Windows XP and Click Search Programs and Files for Windows 7
  • Type CMD in the box and press Enter
  • Type ipconfig and press Enter
  • You will see at the top of what is displayed under Local Arrea Connection or Wireless Network Connection beside IPv4 Address is your IP address
  • To exit this screen, type EXIT or click the Red X at the top of the black DOS screen

That is it.  Hope this helps someone.

Happy computing!

Posted in General Computer Tips and Tricks, Internet Explorer | No comments

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