Servers - Configuring your IP Address

A server needs to have a static IP.

Server IP needs to have the same IP every time another computer or device looks for the server by name or by IP address, using a DHCP address means every time the lease period of the IP is up it will change. The changing IP makes finding the server a moving target.

Servers - Configuring your IP Instructions:

Using your spread sheet from the Configuration considerations section you need to have these IP addresses:

Network IP -
Subnet mask -
Gateway -
DNS -
WINS -
Domain name -

Question: Why have a static IP for a server? Why not use DHCP for them?

Answer: A Static IP address for a server reserves that IP for that Name in DNS and in DHCP. You will use the IP address for the server in different places instead of the server Name, the static IP makes connecting to the server faster and more reliable.

Note: Before doing your IP configuration if the NICs have a Teaming option you need to do the Team setup first. If you do not have a Team option you may want to consider doing a MS Network Bridge. The Bridge combines two or more dissimilar network interface cards in to one MAC and IP address. (Check the Teaming NICs page for more information).

Servers - Configuring your IP

Once you have completed your server installation you need to complete the configuration of your NIC as follows:

If your computer is all ready set up and you need to change the IP you would do this through the My Network Places menu. Right click on the My Network Places icon, drop down to Properties, a window will open with the New  Connection Wizard and any network cards (NIC) installed in the computer. Right click on the NIC you want to work with, drop down to properties.

Highlight the Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) selection, click on the Properties button.

On the General Properties page you will see the IP, Subnet Mask, Gateway, and DNS Server settings. These are required for static IP settings.

Servers - Configuring your IP

Once you have these set click on Advanced, for normal operation the Gateway Metric should be set for Automatic metric. If you are having problems connecting to the gateway router and have a switch between the server and router remove the Automatic metric check box and set it for 1, then edit the gateway IP and set the metric for 1 there also. This will tell the network software to increase the time out before returning the device not found error.

Next click on the DNS tab, there should be a DNS address here, if not add the DNS IP. In addition to the IP you should set the Network DNS suffix. Click the radio button Append these DNS suffixes and  then click edit and add the Domain name. Add the Domain name to the box beside DNS suffix for this connection. Then click the check boxes for Register this connection's addresses in DNS and Use this connection's DNS suffix in DNS registration. (This will automatically register the IP and computer name with your DNS server).

Next click on the WINS tab, add your WINS server IP. Then drop down to the radio button for Enable NetBIOS over TCP/IP and click it. (This allows you to use DNS names to search for computers/devices).

Close all pages back down to the Local Area Connection Properties, on the General tab at the bottom are two check boxes. If you want to have the network connection visible in the tray click the check box for Show icon in notification area when connected. (This is a good idea when troubleshooting a network problem or when you have more than one NIC's installed in a computer). Then I uncheck the box for Notify me when this connection.... (You will know when your network connection degrades, this is a pop up if you want to be notified).

Find more help with Configuring your IP in the Build a Server Guide.

Close all pages. If you have more than one NIC in the computer you may want to name the NIC's, naming the teamed NIC's will allow you to see when one of them has failed, also if you team your NIC's naming the team software will make it more visible.

Once you restart your server you are now ready to join your server to your domain.

You have completed your first Servers - Configuring your IP all the rest will be easier.