Discussion
I don't think it works quite like that. An IP address is not like a telephone number, where you choose it, and you can take it with you. That is what DNS is for.
An IP address, in an absolute sense depends where on a network you are, and may look different to you, as it does to others.
So you might think you have a given IP address, but people who communicate with you use a different one. That can be the case if you are behind a router.
The reason "Static IP" addresses come about, is because if you connect to your ISP through a modem, then you are automatically assigned an address from the pool when you log on. The pool is more than likely a block of consecutive addresses, but the bounds of that block will vary depending on the physical location of your ISP.
All a static IP address is, is a scheme that says whenever you log on to your specifc ISP you'll get a given the same IP address. They could route your IP address to a new physical location that is convenient for your new residence, but given that you can map a DNS name to any IP address, I figure they're probably going to want you to do that, unless you come up with megabucks.
Since the mapping of a DNS name to an IP address takes a while to propogate (maybe a day), you don't really want ot have to change it every time you log on. Since normal ADSL services use dynamic IP addresses, they don't work well with DNS. A static IP avoids this problem because the DNS name points to the static IP address which is yours logged on or not.
If you're not moving far, and staying with the same provider, you may not even notice across the move, but the devil is going to be in hard to pin down detail whichever provider you choose.
It's going to be much easier to get a name, and just redirect it to a new static IP when you move. With that information you may want to leave it until you move, or alternatively not be particularly bothered which ISP you use (or which static IP you get) until you move.
An IP address, in an absolute sense depends where on a network you are, and may look different to you, as it does to others.
So you might think you have a given IP address, but people who communicate with you use a different one. That can be the case if you are behind a router.
The reason "Static IP" addresses come about, is because if you connect to your ISP through a modem, then you are automatically assigned an address from the pool when you log on. The pool is more than likely a block of consecutive addresses, but the bounds of that block will vary depending on the physical location of your ISP.
All a static IP address is, is a scheme that says whenever you log on to your specifc ISP you'll get a given the same IP address. They could route your IP address to a new physical location that is convenient for your new residence, but given that you can map a DNS name to any IP address, I figure they're probably going to want you to do that, unless you come up with megabucks.
Since the mapping of a DNS name to an IP address takes a while to propogate (maybe a day), you don't really want ot have to change it every time you log on. Since normal ADSL services use dynamic IP addresses, they don't work well with DNS. A static IP avoids this problem because the DNS name points to the static IP address which is yours logged on or not.
If you're not moving far, and staying with the same provider, you may not even notice across the move, but the devil is going to be in hard to pin down detail whichever provider you choose.
It's going to be much easier to get a name, and just redirect it to a new static IP when you move. With that information you may want to leave it until you move, or alternatively not be particularly bothered which ISP you use (or which static IP you get) until you move.
Edited by dilbert on Friday 7th December 20:06
Static IP is essential if you want to run your own nameserver to supply DNS service for your own domains. Other than that, these days I guess you can use one of the many dynamic DNS services to map your domain names to your DHCP'd ADSL connection IP... my ADSL router has Dynamic DNS support built in (i.e. if it gets given a new IP lease from the ADSL provider then it contacts the Dynamic DNS service and updates the lookup).
As to most ADSL being DHCP, the posts above seem to suggest it's not that odd. Hell, I had a fixed IP range back in the old days with Demon's ISDN connection, which was so reliable I've forgotten what it's like to be without an internet connection at home. Over two house moves, and buying an entirely new BT line and purchasing Demon's business ADSL service for that new BT phone line, they moved the static IP over from the old ISDN dial-up onto my ADSL line (this was **years** ago) - and I've had the same IP address now for at least 8 years if not more.
The trouble with a static IP is that you become a 'permanent resident' on the internet, as opposed to the 'no fixed abode' of the DHCP ADSL and dial-up people... which means that you are more exposed to malicious, targeted attacks. But that sort of shit only applies if you piss someone off, really. If you're running a profitable SME off a static IP ADSL connection then you ought to have backup if some criminal tries to hold you to ransom with DDoS threats, or simply host the sites on a proper maintained network, like Jamie's firm for example (they'd then hopefully deal with hostile attacks on behalf of your business, for a fee).
I run everything myself off my own static IP and my own domains, but that's more for shits and giggles (and keeping my anti-cracker skills up to date) than any business-critical reason. If losing my network to a massive DDoS (or a *really* talented hacker) would
up my business then I'd have it run for me by someone who does hosting for a living!
As to most ADSL being DHCP, the posts above seem to suggest it's not that odd. Hell, I had a fixed IP range back in the old days with Demon's ISDN connection, which was so reliable I've forgotten what it's like to be without an internet connection at home. Over two house moves, and buying an entirely new BT line and purchasing Demon's business ADSL service for that new BT phone line, they moved the static IP over from the old ISDN dial-up onto my ADSL line (this was **years** ago) - and I've had the same IP address now for at least 8 years if not more.
The trouble with a static IP is that you become a 'permanent resident' on the internet, as opposed to the 'no fixed abode' of the DHCP ADSL and dial-up people... which means that you are more exposed to malicious, targeted attacks. But that sort of shit only applies if you piss someone off, really. If you're running a profitable SME off a static IP ADSL connection then you ought to have backup if some criminal tries to hold you to ransom with DDoS threats, or simply host the sites on a proper maintained network, like Jamie's firm for example (they'd then hopefully deal with hostile attacks on behalf of your business, for a fee).
I run everything myself off my own static IP and my own domains, but that's more for shits and giggles (and keeping my anti-cracker skills up to date) than any business-critical reason. If losing my network to a massive DDoS (or a *really* talented hacker) would
up my business then I'd have it run for me by someone who does hosting for a living!I use BT Business broadband to get a static IP Address - it was a requirement for the job, as I'm a home worker, for various reasons.
I'm sure that there are others that do it, but I'm so far out in the sticks, no-one else did it when I last looked.
I shall therefore keep an eye on this thread to see what it throws up, as I'm paying £35 / month!
I'm sure that there are others that do it, but I'm so far out in the sticks, no-one else did it when I last looked.
I shall therefore keep an eye on this thread to see what it throws up, as I'm paying £35 / month!
mystomachehurts said:
n3il123 said:
I would really like to get a static ip
Why?A static IP won't make games any better, email flow faster or indeed, be all that important for hosting your own stuff (I too use DynDNS and it works fine as a freebie). So if you tell us why you want one as part of a package we'll be able to punt you to the best overall provider for your needs.
RoadRailer said:
Zen give you a /29 for free when you signup if you ask for it - otherwise you just get the 1 static IP addy.
How does an ADSL modem/router cope when you have a subnet of addresses? Thinking aloud, I guess you'd have the router use DHCP as usual, but switch off NAT and manually assign the additional IP addresses to the relevant machines inside the network, right?LexSport said:
How does an ADSL modem/router cope when you have a subnet of addresses? Thinking aloud, I guess you'd have the router use DHCP as usual, but switch off NAT and manually assign the additional IP addresses to the relevant machines inside the network, right?
You mean turn off DHCP and manually allocate addresses in the allocated range? Or turn on DHCP and have it allocate the public IPs? Either way, it wouldn't be the recommended advice. Far better to run a private addressing scheme inside your network.Jubal said:
LexSport said:
How does an ADSL modem/router cope when you have a subnet of addresses? Thinking aloud, I guess you'd have the router use DHCP as usual, but switch off NAT and manually assign the additional IP addresses to the relevant machines inside the network, right?
You mean turn off DHCP and manually allocate addresses in the allocated range? Or turn on DHCP and have it allocate the public IPs? Either way, it wouldn't be the recommended advice. Far better to run a private addressing scheme inside your network.TheLearner said:
mystomachehurts said:
n3il123 said:
I would really like to get a static ip
Why?A static IP won't make games any better, email flow faster or indeed, be all that important for hosting your own stuff (I too use DynDNS and it works fine as a freebie). So if you tell us why you want one as part of a package we'll be able to punt you to the best overall provider for your needs.
n3il123 said:
TheLearner said:
mystomachehurts said:
n3il123 said:
I would really like to get a static ip
Why?A static IP won't make games any better, email flow faster or indeed, be all that important for hosting your own stuff (I too use DynDNS and it works fine as a freebie). So if you tell us why you want one as part of a package we'll be able to punt you to the best overall provider for your needs.
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