IP address

nascargw

n00b
Joined
May 20, 2008
Messages
4
I have a Desktop hooked up to comcast internet through Motorola cable modem . Will the internet work if I unplug the desktop from the cable modem and plug in a laptop or is there some kind of setup I need to do with laptop. Also would the IP address be the same or would a different IP address be established for the laptop. and one more question why is it when the computer is not online it doesn't show the IP address. Is the IP address not on the computer?
 
The IP address is usually assigned from your internet provider if you are plugged straight into the modem. If you use a router, the IP address from the internet provider is assigned to the modem, the router is given a default IP address, and then the router assigns the IP address to the PCs on the network.

If you unplug your PC from the modem, and then plug in the laptop, it should usually automatically get the IP address. If it does not, restart the laptop. If that doesn't work, turn off the laptop / PC, then the modem. Then plug the modem back in, then start the laptop / PC.

Usually you will keep the same IP address when switching PCs connected directly to the modem, but not always.

Hope that helps
 
With Comcast though, you'll almost always have to powercycle the modem when you switch connected devices. Just disconnect the desktop line, and then unplug it, connect it to the laptop and plug it back in.

A router would be pretty inexpensive, and then you could have both connected at once. It basically sort of "splits" the line. You can even get wireless ones fairly inexpensively now if your laptop has a wifi card in it, or you want to add one.
 
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