What Is the Purpose of a Static IP Address?
Static IP addresses assigned to servers, routers and printers give networks the ability to host permanent machines. Static IP addresses are given to web servers, so each time a reader requests the server, it does not need to retrieve a new IP address. Static IP addresses for users provide a way to host applications such as web, games, FTP and other services on the Internet.
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Function
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A static IP address is assigned to any computer that provides critical functions on the network. This includes servers, printers and routers. For instance, if a router did not have a permanent, static IP address, the computer is unable to find its default gateway to access the Internet. A static IP is used, so computers on the network can always find the critical devices. IP resolution is also cached, so it is faster for machines to access computers such as servers.
Features
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A static IP never changes, so it has the same structure each time the machine boots. If the computer's IP is 208.5.093.151, then it remains as that IP until you manually change it. This is unique to dynamic IP addresses, which change each time the computer boots. Dynamic IP addresses are retrieved from a server, but static IP addresses are hard coded on the machine.
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Benefits
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Static IP addresses are beneficial to users who want to host a gaming or web server. These two applications are popular reasons to hard code an IP address to a machine. Web servers obtain a static IP address from the Internet Service Provider (ISP). The web server is configured to host a website, so each time the user enters the domain name in the Web browser, the website is served. Even users at home can host a website from their homes using a static IP address.
Considerations
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Servers with multiple network cards installed can have multiple static IPs assigned to them. This is beneficial for server machines that act as routers, or for web servers that host several different websites on the hard drive. Web hosts commonly have computers with several IP addresses assigned, so they can host many websites on one computer. This reduces resources, and saves the web host money on server purchases.
Warning
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Some ISPs block port 80 (the port used for web hosting) to avoid users hosting web servers on a private network. Adding a static IP to an ISP account is usually an extra cost. To avoid the issue of extra bandwidth use from web hosting, ISPs block the port unless clients pay for the added benefit of a static IP address with web hosting capabilities.
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References
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