Auto Switch IPv4 Settings

Hey, i'm a little new here..so..first off, i'd like to say you guys have a great place here.

Second, i was wondering - is there a way to automatically switch IP settings based on what network is being connected to? I've looked around, but can't seem to find an option to base it on network. The scenario is that i want the settings for my school network to be "automatically obtain IP address" but at home, i want it to automatically switch to "use this IP address" and the specified one, without any user interaction. As it is, whenever i care enough i have to manually change it, and it's frustrating.

Thanks

 

If using XP, you should define the school network. Disable connect to any available network.

Do the same thing for you home. Then go in and define the parameters. You can not have any duplicate SSID's , this will mess up the security settings and fail.

If wired, it should fall back to the alt connection info, if DHCP is not active.

 

the laptop in question is on vista.
the network adapter isnt set to connect to any available..the only thing automatic is that it connects to the home network whenever it is available.

how do i set up the parameters for each network?

 

I thought Vista creates network profile for each network that you connected to. It will automatically select the network for you when you connect to different networks. My Vista never have any problems from connecting different type of network.

If you are going to use static IP address, you can manually enter the IP address on Alternate Configuration, which are under network properties.

 

it has a network profile, yes, and i can connect to both networks.
i've tried inputting the static ip into alternate configuration - but i don't see where it gives me an option of saying i want the static IP for a specific network. anyone have an image..showing where i can input that? the adapter's ip settings don't pertain to specific networks, just in general. and the specific network's settings under vista don't let me specify an ip address to use.

 

Look at this sceen shot. You should be able to do the rest.

 

Thanks, and sorry if i'm not getting my message through: i'm familiar with the alternate settings tab - and i've tried inputting my alternate settings in - but where do i specify that i want the alternate settings to be applied to a specific network, while using the regular settings for all other networks?

 

You don't have to do anything. Vista will fall back to alternate ip address if it can't get ip address from DHCP. For example, your work/school is using DHCP. Vista will use ip from DHCP server automaticaly. If you come back home, and your home use static ip address, Vista will fall back to use alternate ip address.

Alternate ip address is per interface NOT per network profile.

 

Ohhh.

I get what you are saying. And that would be why when i use alternate it doesn't work - because my home network uses DHCP. So if i have it on automatically obtain ip address, it *will* connect. I don't *need* the static IP to connect, but i do *need* the static IP for port forwarding. I get that i could probably set the router to assign static IPs to every pc and turn off DHCP - but there are a *lot* of computers to change the settings of for static IP.

I hope that i'm coming through clearly...basically this laptop is the only one on the home network that uses a static IP, the rest are not set up. Would i have to manually set them all up and then turn off dhcp? Or is there a way on my laptop's side to request the static IP per network?

Thanks again

 

I don't know how many machines you are dealing with. Perhap dedicate DHCP server would be an answer for you since DHCP server can set reserved ip address based on each machine's MAC address, I don't know if your router can do it.

You can turn off DHCP on your router and manually give each machine static ip address. Just make sure that you point each machine to the right default gateway, which is a router ip address.

Give me your home address, so I can send you a bill.

 

Most modern routers allow you to reserve IP address based on MAC Address. This keeps dhcp on, but it will assign the same IP every time. I use it on my network, for my servers and SNMP pc. I also use it for my VLAN.