using a static IP address

by default client computers, for example those running windows xp professional, windows 2000, windows ME, windows NT, microsoft windows 98, or microsoft windows 95 obtain TCP/IP configuration information automatically from the DHCP service. however even in DHCP enabled environment you should assign a static IP address to selected network computers. for example, the computer running DHCP service cannot be a DHCP client, so it must have a static IP address. if the DHCP service is not available you can also configure TCP/IP to use static IP address. for each network adaptor card that uses TCP/IP in a computer, you can configure an IP address, subnet mask and default gateway.