Techy question on IP addresses

[handbag]

Hi Guys

How exactly are IP addresses allocated?

For example, if I had two BT landlines at my home, would my IP addresses for each make it obvious that both computers are at the same address or very close to each other?

If each computer used a different ISP, would that make the IP addresses more different?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

[compuclean]

Don't know, but you must be up to summat dodgy!!!!!!!!! ha ha just kidding mate.

[epiphany]

http://www.howstuffworks.com/question549.htm

great site

[DuaneJackson]

There a a number of ways allocation is handled. In the scenario you mention you would be looking at something called DHCP.

AOL get given a range of IPs by RIPE, perhaps from 172.209.91.1 to 172.209.91.255 (in reality it'd be a much bigger range) This gives them 244 ip addreses. But they have 300 users. When a AOL users connects to the internet their computer makes a request for an IP. Lets say that 172.209.91.48 is allocated to the computer on a 2 day lease. The computer uses that IP for 2 days. Before the lease expires your computer will attempt to renew it for a longer period. If your computer doesn't renew the lease then it id put back into the pool for allocation to other clients.

If you had two BT landlines at home and an account on each of them then they'd be allocated different IPs irespective of your physical location.

To someone comparing the IP addresses they'd be no obvious connection between the two. However, law enforcement and the ISPs themselves would be able trace them both to their physcial location.

I hope that helps

d

[mr-e-commerce]

Duane is correct in what he's saying, RIPE allocate an IP range to a service provider such as BT, its a bit like how car number plates were allocated to dealerships so although someone could not easily tell that you were the same person in one location via your IP addresses it would be possible to locate the IP addresses back to the same service provider and if your clued up on all this stuff you could go further and issue a traceroute against each IP.. and so on... I could probably tell you that the IPs were in the same street and possibly tell you if they were at the same house but there would always be some margin of error.

[Rob Holmes]

The information given out varies depending on the ISP and how they have registered their details in the IP whois and then how they allocate them to their users. To my knowledge BT are fairly indescriminate about issuing their IP addresses and depending if you purchase a static IP or just get the standard ISP allocated dynamic IP depends on if it changes or not.

But generally if you log on with both machines at around the same time I think you'll be more likely to have very similar IP addresses.

If you really wanted them to be different then it's better to have 2 different ISP's providing your internet connection.

Rob

[handbag]

Hello again

I certainly did not mean to kick off such a debate.

I was looking at the forum as I am looking to start up an internet-based business.

I thought of posting the question in the IT and internet section just because I want to get revenge on a friend who thrashes me at an online game that somehow knows the city where you are based. I would just gang up on him with another character.

I apologise, as of course this is not a business question, but I noticed a bit of general chat elsewhere.

I am of course aware that I could be tracked down if I did anything malicious online - but I can not actually imagine what malicious use there would be for such an issue?!

Back to the business side of things, I am very impressed with the speed and level of knowledge that comes with the replies.

[DuaneJackson]

LOL, seriously - don't worry about it. You'll be fine.

Pop over to the 'Introductions' forum and introduce yourself.

[Rob Holmes]

Hi Handbag,

Like Duane says - feel free to drop a note in the intros

I tidied up the thread a bit to keep it on topic :wink:

Rob

[MyNI]

By that he means he deleted my posts :) I was right in some respects, you didn't really have a legitimate reason and you did intend to pose as someone else... but I would hardly rate cheating at an online game as malicious so my apologies. You could always try masking your IP by using a proxy.

Go to http://www.proxy4free.com/page1.html or something similar to get proxies then go to internet options (if you are using ie) then Connections, settings check 'Use a proxy...' and enter the IP and port and away you go. It might be an idea to clear your cookies first aswell. Be sure to uncheck the proxy when you are not using it.