How to Set Up a Static IP Address in Linux

IP addressing represents a way to define a particular computer in the Internet. Often a computer automatically gets a dynamic IP address that changes each time you log into the network. The static IP address, however, is permanently assigned to a particular computer. Typically you need to define such a static address if you plan running a Web or mail server on your Linux machine.

Instructions

1. Click the Linux Desktop menu "System." Then select "Administration" and click "Network."

2. Enter the root (administrator) password on the prompt and click "OK." The network configuration window will appear.

3. Select the tab "Devices" in the network configuration window. Then click the button "Edit."

4. Select the radio button "Statically set IP addresses" to activate manual IP address settings.

5. Enter the IP address value in the field "Address." Then enter the subnet mask in the field "Subnet mask." Note that the subnet mask has the same dot-decimal format as the IP address.

6. Click "OK" to set your Linux computer to use the static IP address.

Tips & Warnings

• Contact your Internet Service Provide (ISP) or the system administrator to obtain your static IP address and subnet mask numbers.

References

• Netgear: What is an IP Address? (Static IP, Dynamic IP)
• "Linux Networking Cookbook"; Carla Schroder; 2007