Automatic private IP address specifies that Internet Protocol version 4 (IPv4) will use Automatic Private IP Addressing (APIPA) if a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) server is not found. APIPA assigns an IP address from the range 169.254.0.1 through 169.254.255.254 and a subnet mask of 255.255.0.0. APIPA does not assign a default gateway, Domain Name System (DNS) servers, or servers running Windows Internet Name Service (WINS).

User configured specifies that IPv4 will use a manually specified configuration if a DHCP server is not found. This alternate configuration is useful when the computer is used on more than one network, at least one of the networks does not have a DHCP server, and an APIPA configuration is not wanted. A good example is a portable computer that is used at the office and at home. At the office, the laptop uses a DHCP-allocated TCP/IP configuration. At home, where there is no DHCP server present, the portable computer automatically uses the alternate configuration, allowing easy access to home network devices and the Internet. This enables the portable computer to operate seamlessly on both networks without manual IP reconfiguration.

Procedures

To specify user-configured settings

  • Click User configured, and then type appropriate values for the following:

    • IP address

    • Subnet mask

    • Default gateway

    • Preferred and alternate DNS server

    • Preferred and alternate WINS server

Additional references

For updated detailed IT pro information about TCP/IP versions 4 and 6, see https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=117437 and https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=71543.

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