Dynamic vs. Static IP Addresses: A Quick Overview

In today's interconnected world, the term "IP address" is ubiquitous, as most electronic devices now have some form of Internet connection. But what exactly is an IP address? "IP" stands for Internet Protocol, and the address refers to the unique label assigned to each device connected to a network that uses this protocol for communication. This article reviews the two main types of IP addresses: dynamic and static. We examine their features, benefits and uses to provide a comprehensive understanding of how they work and their importance in various network configurations.

For home networks, you are likely familiar with IPv4 addresses, which are a 32-bit numeric label, individually assigned to each device connected to a network that uses the Internet Protocol for communication. You may recognize the 192.168.x.x address range, as this is the common local network range for Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) addresses. But have you ever noticed that IP addresses can change? That's because they are dynamic.

Dynamic IP Addresses

A dynamic IP address is an address that may change from time to time, but it does not need to be changed all the time. Modern routers are usually switched on all the time in the home, which means that the assigned IP addresses rarely change, and we therefore don't notice it. However, if you disconnect and restart your router, connected devices may no longer have the same IP address as before. However, this is not a problem, as DHCP handles this automatically. Each connected device is assigned a unique address by the router, and it logs each address. For home and private networks, this is ideal as it requires no user configuration.  

Static IP Address  

But what if we need to assign a specific address to a device for security or remote access purposes? This is where static IP addresses come in!  

A static IP address is a permanently assigned address to a device, which never changes (unless it is changed manually). Basically, this means that if a static IP address has been assigned to a device and the network is rebooted, the device will ALWAYS return to the same address.

Static IP addresses are great for configuring file servers, domains, remote access and port forwarding in networks. But how does this really help us?

Remote access systems often use static IP addresses, such as a VPN. This allows specific IP addresses to be granted access to the server or network and assigned certain privileges within them. This is ideal for commercial and marine vessels that depend on remote monitoring and access to their networks. This allows one to restrict access to certain devices, providing greater control over both access and security, while keeping network and VPN traffic low.

Understanding Potential Issues  

However, there is one thing I want to stress about configuring static IP addresses and networks. Only change these settings if you understand what you are doing and feel confident doing so. When we introduce static IP addresses and things like subnets and masks, it's easy to make the device unreachable from other systems. Also, be sure to note the IP address assigned.

Some systems require the static address to be assigned via the router, while other devices (such as our PRO products with Ethernet access) allow the static address to be entered in the device itself.

For example, if a static address is assigned to a PRO-NDC-1E2K, the DHCP settings will be overridden and the device will not automatically be assigned a random 32-bit name when it reconnects to a router. If it is kept within the 192.168.x.x range, this is not a major problem. However, if the device is moved to a 10.x.x.x address, both the computer and the device must have access to this address range in order to reach the PRO-NDC-1E2K.

Conclusion

In summary, the advantages of using a static IP address for the average user is usually not worth it. Leaving the network running on DHCP with dynamic addresses is quite sufficient. For added security and control, static IP addresses can be used to restrict access, but make sure you note the IP address and can always access it, either locally or remotely.