Does every computer...

[GameMaster]

...that's connected to the internet have it's own IP number? Or do several computers share the same IP number? And what are port numbers? And how do I identify my port number? Thanks!

[Canyarion]

It depends on your setup. Our 2 computers each have their own IP adres, they are seperately connected to the internet (BTW this makes a network pretty hard, advice anyone??).
If you have 1 or more computers that are connected to the PC that's connected to the internet, you only have 1 IP-adres.

I think. :)

[Hero2]

on cable or dsl you have a set ip
on dial up your ip should change alot like everytime you log on
about the network you shouldent have an ip address set for the connection if its dial up and you dont need an ip for the network just make a disk
( if xp) and use that to set up the net work i think other window can create the disk to but im not sure
and good lucknetworkin xp and me ive been tring or a year and a half now and i can get xp to read me but cant get me to read xp

[Happydude]

acually...it doesnt matter if your in a network or not,but each computer has it's own IP address...i learned about this a year ago...can't remember anything about it...:p

or you cold try looking on HowStuffWorks.com (http://computer.howstuffworks.com/question549.htm) :)

[gekko]

There are internal and external IPs. Each device that is connected to the internet is given an external IP by your ISP. It may cycle every time you connect, which for many means resetting the modem, but a few ISPs allow static IPs, which will never change. But usually unless you run a server, you don't need a static IP.

Internal IPs identify each computer of a network. They tend to be similar to 192.168.1.1, don't know why, but many networks use it by default. If you are on that network, you can connect to that IP to access that computer. However, anyone off the network can't access your computer by that IP, they must connect using the external IP, and if you're on a network, that can be difficult.

So let's say you have 4 computers connected to your modem using the uplink port (which basically involves no networking, more or less just splitting a cable). Your ISP would assign each of those computers an external IP, because there are 4 devices connected to the internet.

Now say you have a network setup, and you connect your router to the modem and connect. Your ISP assigns you 1 external IP, because only one device is connected, that being the router. From there, your individual computer is given an internal IP to be identified on the network.

So if you're not connected to a network (either LAN or WAN), you have no IP. Otherwise, you do, in some form.

Port numbers are just numbers used to identify different ports. I'm not sure what all the ports do, but sometimes if you're on a network or behind a firewall, it's necessary to open up certain ports for a program to work properly. It's all done on the router setup. For example, you may need to open ports 9700-9800 for a program to work properly. That's all it is, your computer doesn't have a specific "port number."

[Hero2]

by internal ip addresses you mean the subnet masks right they its only use those because their are only certain amount of ip addresses the can be made for use like 4,228,250,625 and thats not alot
i forgot the set rankings but they go from class a to class e i think f and e are for reserved use a is for huge companis and b is for big companies only class c is for normal use.

[bobcat]

by internal ip addresses you mean the subnet masks right they its only use those because their are only certain amount of ip addresses the can be made for use like 4,228,250,625 and thats not alot
i forgot the set rankings but they go from class a to class e i think f and e are for reserved use a is for huge companis and b is for big companies only class c is for normal use.

class a is 1.0.0.0-126.0.0.0
b is 128.0.0.0-191.255.0.0
c is 192.0.0.0-223.255.255.0

In class c, the first 3 numbers (octets) r network id's, which means that they can have a lot of networks. The last number is a host id, which allows so many users on all those networks.

In class b, first 2 octets are network id's, last 2 host id's.

In class a, first octet is network, last 3 r hosts. So you have ALOT of users on a HUGE n/w.

And all port numbers do is allow or deny access to Netbt/Winsock. Such as http (80) SNMP/DNS/FTP

127.0.0.1 is for loopback testing.

[Yoda9864]

on cable or dsl you have a set ip
on dial up your ip should change alot like everytime you log on
about the network you shouldent have an ip address set for the connection if its dial up and you dont need an ip for the network just make a disk
( if xp) and use that to set up the net work i think other window can create the disk to but im not sure
and good lucknetworkin xp and me ive been tring or a year and a half now and i can get xp to read me but cant get me to read xp
Actually, networking xp is extremelyt easy. I've dont it several times without a hitch. What you are experiencing sounds like a file system problem. Win Me/NT/Xp (i think those are the right ones) run (usually) NTFS, while older systems will run FAT32 or even FAT16 file systems. NTFS can read FAT32, but FAT32 can't read NTFS. That would explain why your xp system can't be read by others, but it can read them.

But anyway, Gekko knows what he's talking about. Very nice explaination.

[PuPPeT]

It depends on your setup. Our 2 computers each have their own IP adres, they are seperately connected to the internet (BTW this makes a network pretty hard, advice anyone??).
If you have 1 or more computers that are connected to the PC that's connected to the internet, you only have 1 IP-adres.

I think. :)

You should not really have any problems networking your computers together! And you made it even easer for you self by having fixed IP’s (the best way to net work with out DHCP). When running a small network from home your subnet mask is far more important then your IP address as this is what will add or take away network sections in the network.

Of course to help you out more we would need to know how you have setup your home net?

[Canyarion]

Ok, so we have Windows XP on both PCs. (BTW they're using the same registration number, will that be a problem??)

See the attachment for my setup. :)

Thanks in advance, I'd really love the network! :D

[Null]

same xp home on both? or professional?

i've heard of ppl having problems later down the road when they use the same xp home on 2 computers. it doesnt like that.

pro doesnt mind

[The Duggler]

Ok, so we have Windows XP on both PCs. (BTW they're using the same registration number, will that be a problem??)

See the attachment for my setup. :)

Thanks in advance, I'd really love the network! :D Well, what do you want to do with the network? It's probably working already, you just don't know what to do with it.

[Hero2]

[QUOTE=bobcat]class a is 1.0.0.0-126.0.0.0
b is 128.0.0.0-191.255.0.0
c is 192.0.0.0-223.255.255.0

QUOTE]
thx i took cisco for 3 semesters and that was two or three years ago i couldent remember the ranges
:)

[bobcat]

[QUOTE=bobcat]class a is 1.0.0.0-126.0.0.0
b is 128.0.0.0-191.255.0.0
c is 192.0.0.0-223.255.255.0

QUOTE]
thx i took cisco for 3 semesters and that was two or three years ago i couldent remember the ranges
:)
i'm actually studying this 4 my mcse hehe

[Canyarion]

i'm actually studying this 4 my mcse hehe
Ehm... I'd still like to know what I have to do now to get the network working! Hardware is probably not the problem, now I want to fix the software.

I'd like to use is to transfer files and play LAN games. :)

Thanks Null or PuPPeT or anyone else! :D