Could someone explain why a single computer IP would change from one day to the next, and how to prevent it? Last weekend I spent and inordinate amount of time with Simconnect and finally got everthing to connect. Tonight, I was horrified when things failed to connect only to learn the server IP had mysteriously changed by a single digit.

Could someone explain why a single computer IP would change from one day to the next, and how to prevent it?

Find the TCP/IP Proprties for your Ethernet adapter/connection, and specify a fixed IP address, and give it the IP address of your router as the GateWay and DNS.

Last weekend I spent and inordinate amount of time with Simconnect and finally got everthing to connect. Tonight, I was horrified when things failed to connect only to learn the server IP had mysteriously changed by a single digit.

Use the computer name instead of the IP address and it won't matter if the latter changes.RegardsPete

Most networks now provide IP addresses to connected devices via a protocol called DCHP (dynamic host control protocol). This allows for a device to request a valid IP address for the network it is connected to. The address changes based on demand, the number of devices connected, the order they connect to the network, and other configuration parameters.It's ok, in fact recommended in many cases, for client devices on a network to use dynamic addresses. You should always be able to use the host name of the computer instead of the IP address. The way this works is by using what's called DNS - dynamic name service, which lets your computer know the IP address of the device if you know its host name.That does require that you also have a domain name server (DNS) on the network, which should be the case if you have a DHCP server.In your simconnect configuration files, you can provide the IP address or the DNS name (same as host name) so that if your server changes IP addresses, the name will always resolve to the current IP address. Use that name instead of the IP address and you should be good to go.You can also setup a fixed IP for the server, but you should then exclude that IP address from the DHCP server, or ensure you use a range that is not used by DHCP. This ensures there are no conflicts, because IP addresses are unique to each device on the network. That usually is more trouble than it's worth.The following command on Windows will give you the current network information easily:1) open a command line window (from the start button, select run..., type "cmd", press <enter>). Note: on Vista, run... is not displayed by default, you need to enable it via the right click context menu on the start button.2) type "ipconfig /all" at the c:\ prompt. Ensure there's a space between the g and the /.The display shows you all the information for each network card connected in the system, and how it is configured, and also what DHCP server or DNS server is in use by each connection.Hope this helps,E.

Thanks very much. I now use computer name with no problem.