Static ip address

[mrmoonlight]

Hi do i really have to use a Static ip address to use my Amiga on line ,or can i just use a normal one ,only a lot of providers dont do one and sky are about to buy my provider which is o2 and where o2 did static sky do not .

[Zetr0]

Sadly Amiga's can be quite fickle to get online - but I do believe that Miami DX's TCP/IP stack has the option for DHCP assigned address (set by your router) you could try that option =)

[mrmoonlight]

Sadly Amiga's can be quite fickle to get online - but I do believe that Miami DX's TCP/IP stack has the option for DHCP assigned address (set by your router) you could try that option =)

Thank you for your reply at least it gives me an option,i will go have a look very best wishes Brian.

[spirantho]

I think you're misunderstanding what the static IP address is about.

The IP address is on your home network - not the "internet". The only device on your network that exists on the internet is actually your hub, and that can have a static address (unusual) or DHCP (much more common). This is completely independent of your Amiga.

Your Amiga can have a static IP address or DHCP (just about any TCP/IP stack apart from AmiTCP 3) will do DHCP without too much trouble, although there can be issues with some hubs, at which point you just use static IP. Whatever you do with your Amiga, though, it only makes a difference between your Amiga and your hub - the connection between your hub and the rest of the world stays the same.

In other words - don't worry about it. The only way it would be a problem is if your hub were to not support static IP  on its internal (your home) network, which would be incredibly brain-dead. That said, of course, Sky are pretty brain-dead... but I think you'll be ok.

[mrmoonlight]

I think you're misunderstanding what the static IP address is about.

The IP address is on your home network - not the "internet". The only device on your network that exists on the internet is actually your hub, and that can have a static address (unusual) or DHCP (much more common). This is completely independent of your Amiga.

Your Amiga can have a static IP address or DHCP (just about any TCP/IP stack apart from AmiTCP 3) will do DHCP without too much trouble, although there can be issues with some hubs, at which point you just use static IP. Whatever you do with your Amiga, though, it only makes a difference between your Amiga and your hub - the connection between your hub and the rest of the world stays the same.

In other words - don't worry about it. The only way it would be a problem is if your hub were to not support static IP  on its internal (your home) network, which would be incredibly brain-dead. That said, of course, Sky are pretty brain-dead... but I think you'll be ok.

Thank you everyone for there help ,really pleased and its working very well and saved me money as the static ip was extra ,so thanks again,Brian.

[psxphill]

although there can be issues with some hubs, at which point you just use static IP. Whatever you do with your Amiga, though, it only makes a difference between your Amiga and your hub - the connection between your hub and the rest of the world stays the same.

I've never heard of a hub stopping DHCP from working. I generally only use static ip addresses on things that don't support DHCP (like the playstation 2). For everything else I usually just put a DHCP reservation if I want it to keep the same IP address each time. If you do use a static ip address then make sure you either use an address outside of the DHCP range or you also add a reservation for it.

[paul1981]

Hi do i really have to use a Static ip address to use my Amiga on line ,or can i just use a normal one ,only a lot of providers dont do one and sky are about to buy my provider which is o2 and where o2 did static sky do not .

What people are referring to when they say "set a static ip address" is actually the address of your Amiga 1200.... which is connected to your "Local Area Network" or LAN. You can set this address in a configuration file on your Amiga. Or, if DHCP is working on your Amiga, then an address will be provided automatically to your Amiga by the DHCP server on your skybox/bthomehub etc... and in that case you don't need to set an ip address manually (static).

Your LAN is anything that you have connected to your ADSL/Cable Modem (Your skybox or bthomehub etc etc). This may be a wireless connection to your computers/laptops/printers, or wired connections, or both, but it's all "local" and is nothing to with the IP address that your ISP assigns you at the other end of the box...that's there end and the normal user (you and me) need never think about it.

Hope that helps a bit.

[mrmoonlight]

What people are referring to when they say "set a static ip address" is actually the address of your Amiga 1200.... which is connected to your "Local Area Network" or LAN. You can set this address in a configuration file on your Amiga. Or, if DHCP is working on your Amiga, then an address will be provided automatically to your Amiga by the DHCP server on your skybox/bthomehub etc... and in that case you don't need to set an ip address manually (static).
 
Your LAN is anything that you have connected to your ADSL/Cable Modem (Your skybox or bthomehub etc etc). This may be a wireless connection to your computers/laptops/printers, or wired connections, or both, but it's all "local" and is nothing to with the IP address that your ISP assigns you at the other end of the box...that's there end and the normal user (you and me) need never think about it.
 
Hope that helps a bit.

 
Hi again when i first set my Amiga up a few weeks ago i was told by o2 that i may need a static ip address which is why i then agread to pay £5 for the pleasure of using it which i have done its only because i was looking for another provider because o2 has been bought by sky that i was told i dont need a static ip Address so i cancelled the static ip and was changed over and it still works perfectly and i havent changed any settings and i am now £5 a month richer ,i dont fully understand ,but it works and i love to surf the net on my Amiga slow as it may be which bothers me none ,best wishes Brian.:laughing:

[Karlos]

I think the confusion arises from the fact that your ISP can give you a static IP address and the fact that older Amiga TCIP/IP stacks such as AmiTCP require static IP address allocation.

If you connect to the outside world via a router, which most people using any sort of broadband package will, then it doesn't matter what sort of IP address you get from your ISP, because the IP address your Amiga uses will basically be your choice from your router's free local IP addresses.

Most of your devices on your home network will probably be fine with DHCP and just negotiate with the router for an address. If, like me, you have a few older Amigas on your network that expect a static IP address, all you need to do is use your router to reserve a few for whatever MAC address the network cards in those Amigas use. Every time they negotiate for an address, the router will see their MAC address and assign the same one each time, so as far as the Amiga's network stack is concerned, it is static and all is well.