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SpaceCoastLife

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Configuring PC with a fixed/static IP

Should be a simple question for you experts!

I run Plex Media Server on my Dell Workstation mapped to a Synology Network drive where the videos are stored. PMS requires identifying a specific port tied to the Dell Ip but every time I reboot, the Dell the Ip changes so the port setting is no longer valid.


I entered the Ip information for Dell into the network adapter TCP/Ipv4 (from ipconfig) by selecting "Use the following Ip" and select "Validate settings upon exit" but the operation fails with a DHCP Not Enabled message. There's no Ip conflict and it's the same Ip already entered in PMS.        WHY?     And more importantly, how do I resolve it?
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Soulja
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It's giving you a DHCP error message despite putting in a static ip address and dns address? Can you provide screen shots of what you are doig?
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Dr. Klahn

When going to a static IP address, the DNS servers are no longer set by DHCP and must also be set manually (red section in the image below).  Perhaps that is the issue.

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ASKER

I'm using Google - 888.888.888.888 and it failed. Then I tried OpenDNS IP. It also failed. I just don't get it!
goofle DNS is 8.8.8.8, not 888.888.888.888 (which is an illegal address).  Both goofle and openDNS are reported to track and log DNS requests.  Try 1.1.1.1, which is open and untracked.
to add to the before comment:

if the IP 4 address from DHCP was 192.168.1.x  you should use a high number greater 200 and less 255 for the fixed IP4 address.

that is to not getting a conflict with the IP4 addresses still provided by the DHCP router. see, that Dr. Klahn used 210 in the sample.

note, the router's IP4-Address mostly begins with 192.168 because 192.168. is recommended for local IP4 and 192.168.1 would be chosen for the first router. However, it is possible that your router was configured differently. the fixed IP4 address for your computer must match the first 3 numbers of the router (what have been the first 3 numbers of the dynamic IP4 you got from DHCP) or it will fail.

Sara
Additional:  When assigning static IP addresses on a LAN, the static addresses must be outside the IP address range allocated to DHCP.  Log into the DHCP server (whatever it is), take note of the range of addresses it has been given for DHCP assignments, and pick an address outside of that range.
I'm sorry if I missed it but before suggestions are made about address selection, we have to know the DHCP address range.  Just selecting "high" addresses makes an assumption.  So, it appears that I'm simply agreeing with Dr. Klahn's last post.  Best practice is to *plan* static addresses.
While it's been mentioned, one of the concerns about static addressing is that the DNS addresses are going to work.  I should think that *copying* the results of a DHCP setup in the DNS section would work right away - then the only concern would be future changes.
I mistyped the 888.888 etc, It was/is 8.8.8.8. I'll review the other suggestions and respond.
when you say "Log into the DHCP server (whatever it is), take note of the range of addresses it has been given for DHCP assignments," I don't understand. How do I log into the DHCP server if it's Google, for example?
Here's an example:
There is a router or server which is providing DHCP to the network.  
If you have any access to it then you can log into it.
If you log into it, you can observe the DHCP settings - which will include the DHCP range.
It may look like this:
Starting address: 192.168.1.50
Number of addresses: 50   (so the last address would be 192.168.1.99)
OR
Range: 192.168.1.50-192.168.1.99
OR
Starting address: 192.168.1.50
Ending Address: 192.168.1.99
etc.
Google isn't a DHCP server but it does host public DNS servers like 8.8.8.8.....
YOUR DHCP server is likely 192.168.1.1.....
If you use this command in a command prompt window:
ipconfig /all
You will get the DHCP address in the resulting list.
My latest attempt:

IP address: 192.168.1.16
Subnet mast: 255.255.255.0
Default gateway: 196.168.1.1     (what displays with ipconfig/all for DHCP)

Preferred DNS Server: 8.8.8.8
Alternate DNS Server: 8.8.4.4

FAILS! I'm probably doing something stupid but I have no idea what!
If you have any access to it then you can log into it.

assume you have a Fritzbox. then you 'log in' by typing

http://fritz.box

Open in new window


or
169.254.1.1

Open in new window


into the address line of your internet browser (firefox, edge, chrome, internet explorer).

if the router is from a different vendor, check the user manual how to login.

Just selecting "high" addresses makes an assumption.

although Fred is right with that, a conflict with IP4 ranges from DHCP is out of the question when using a number like 210 for the last byte if your LAN consists only of a few devices (computers, printers).

Sara
What are the settings for a computer that is being served by DHCP?
i.e. the results of ipconfig /all   ??
Not to start a "chat" here but:
a conflict with IP4 ranges from DHCP is out of the question
This may be a practical answer in many situations but it isn't technically correct.  "Out of the question" is a bit extreme in my view.
Suppose the DHCP range is 192.168.1.205 - 192.168.1.215 ??  Then 210 may well not work as a static address.
My only point would be that you really *should* know what the range is to avoid problems.
And, yes, there may be times when guessing will work and be fine.  But why tempt fate?
What other networking services are running on this system, other than TCP/IP and perhaps Microsoft Networking?
None
What are the settings for a computer that is being served by DHCP?
i.e. the results of ipconfig /all   ??
Windows IP Configuration

   Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : MEDIA
   Primary Dns Suffix  . . . . . . . :
   Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Hybrid
   IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
   WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No

Ethernet adapter Ethernet:

   Connection-specific DNS Suffix  . :
   Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Killer E2400 Gigabit Ethernet Controller
   Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : D8-9E-F3-7B-DC-D4
   DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
   Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
   Link-local IPv6 Address . . . . . : fe80::7022:1ff8:ce3b:3d6f%17(Preferred)
   IPv4 Address. . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.18(Preferred)
   Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
   Lease Obtained. . . . . . . . . . : Wednesday, September 26, 2018 4:10:38 PM
   Lease Expires . . . . . . . . . . : Thursday, September 27, 2018 4:10:35 PM
   Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1
   DHCP Server . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1
   DHCPv6 IAID . . . . . . . . . . . : 232300275
   DHCPv6 Client DUID. . . . . . . . : 00-01-00-01-21-F4-4F-71-D8-9E-F3-7B-DC-D4
   DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1
   NetBIOS over Tcpip. . . . . . . . : Enabled
OK - good!
So you will make the gateway 192.168.1.1 and the DNS server 192.168.1.1.
If you can log into 192.168.1.1, then you should be able to find the DHCP range of addresses and assign a static IP address that is OUTSIDE this range.
Otherwise, you could run Softperfect Network Scanner over the full subnet range: 192.168.1.1-192.168.1.254 and see where there are large gaps like above 100 or 150 or 200 and select an address there (since we know now that .18 is inside the DHCP range).
https://downloads.tomsguide.com/SoftPerfect-Network-Scanner,0301-32909.html
Note that just because an address is not showing up in the scan that some device isn't using it but just isn't turned on.  So, large gaps are best.
Well, The range is 192.168.1.2 to 192.168.1.254 so what would you recommend?
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hypercube
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Not really working yet but lots of good ideas for me to ponder and try out.

Thanks everyone!