Network adapter properties when connecting to 2 networks

Hi All!

I have an HP Pavilion running Microsoft Vista Home Premium. When I'm at home I have setup my network such that every computer has a STATIC IP address. So mine would be 192.168.1.101 and i setup these properties by clicking on the Wireless Network Adapter -> Properties -> IPv4 -> Specify an IP address.

HOWEVER when I take my laptop to school, the network there is also wireless and the network ASSIGNS you an ip address. So I have to go BACK into the properties and select the option of 'Obtain an IP address' therefore erasing my previous settings so i can connect. THEN when I go home again, I have to go through the same procedure above.

I was wondering if there was anyway I can simplify my networking procedure. Is there anyway for me to setup the ip address information depending on which network I connect to?

Thanks! If you need anymore information let me know!

 

Why do you use static IP addresses at home? Simplest solution would be to use dynamic addresses there too!

 

The reason I use a static ip is because I have a network printer. I shut off the router every night and then when I turn it on the computers all get different ip addresses and so does the printer. Then when someone tries to print over the network, you have to go and EACH TIME specify the ip address of the printer...unless you guys have a simple easy way for that too I have the NEW brother all in one colour laserjet 4400cn.

 

I have the identical problem with my HP2610 Network printer if printer IP changes.
My Netgear WGT624 router offers a "Reserve IP address" option. I can reserve any IP address to a MAC device/value. I leave DHCP set to dynamic. When I cold boot the entire system (6x devices, plus router) all attached devices are dynamically assigned their "reserved IP address ". A dynamic IP assignment at system level with a static IP results ... kinda like Static in Stealth Mode. This is how I control / cure this problem on my network. Since this is managed at the router, I continue to have dynamic assignment at system level when one of my WIFI attached device(s) link to a different network.

Another option ...
My HP 2610 network printer provides an option/choice for "Manual IP Address Configuration" (static) versus Automatic (dynamic) IP assignment (managed via printer firmware control). If Brother provides this option, try using a high address, example x.x.x.254 for printer. Move rest of network devices to dynamic IP's.

 

I can't find the printer you scecify (4400cn) on the brother site. The nearest I could find that matched your decription of "all in one" was an mfc440cn. Looking through the manual:

http://welcome.solutions.brother.co...prod=mfc440cn_all&type2=6&flang=English&dlid=

the simplest solution is probably to set the IP address of the printer via the control panel on the front of the printer itself. There is a guide to doing this on page 12 in the manual above. This looks to be a generic guide so I expect it will work even if your printer is not a mfc440cn. The steps appear to be:

• Press Menu
• Select TCP/IP
• Selelect Boot method
• Select Static
• Enter the IP address and mask

Now the question is, what address do you use. You need to use a static address for the printer that will not coincide with one of the automatic addresses assigned by the router. So you'll need to go into the router config page and work out which addresses DHCP is giving out.

However, based on the fact that you quote 192.168.1.101, my guess is that your router is 192.168.1.1, and that it is giving out IP addresses from 192.168.1.100 to 192.168.1.200. That leaves addresses 192.168.1.2 to 192.168.1.99 available. So something in there. 192.168.1.10 would be easy to remember. The mask will be 255.255.255.0. Leave default gateway blank unless you have a very good reason not to. It's very unlikely that your printer needs access to the internet, so why give it a gateway that allows it to do that!