Computer question

[baker]

My wife and I have a laptop that has 2 diffrent sign on's. Basically when the laptop turns on there is my name and her name. You click on which ever icon you want (i go in mine) and there are different desktops, documents, etc. My question is do we have the same IP address?

[ChloroFiend]

Yes and no. You are probably getting a dynamic (meaning it changes) IP address from your ISP. Since that can change, there's no guarantee that it will stay the same, though they usually do. For all intensive purposes, it probably will be, especially if you do not shut down or reboot the computer before changing logons.

Sorry, there's no absolute answer.

[loon]

but that would be for dial up if you had broad band then it would be the same ip. or what you can do is do an ip test.

[dm_gsxr]

If you're both accessing from the same network plug then yea. If you're using it at home and she's using it at Starbucks, then they're different, but only as long as you're using it in different places. As long as you're both using it off of the same network connection (cable modem for example), then it's the same IP for both.

With DHCP, there's a chance that any records would show different IPs for the same MAC but that's probably more complicated that you wanted to know

In general and all things being equal, any account on the system would have the same IP address.

What's unique about a network card is its MAC address. That's assigned by the manufacturer of the ethernet chip on the network card. So if you have an RJ45 connection (normal ethernet plug) and wireless capability, you'll have two MACs for the system.

Carl

[Krazy Hawaiian]

Chloro is right to a point. I know a simple way to find out if you want. Log on as yourself, then go to http://www.whatsmyip.org/ write down what it tells you then restart the PC and have the wifey log on let her go to whats my ip and see what it says. If you are on a dial up it will almost certainly be different, if its broadband it could stay the same or change at intervals. It all depends on the ISP.

Generally to have a static IP (doesnt change) you pay about $10 a month extra some providers (like mine) stay the same for very long periods. As I said it depends on the provider.

They do this to help prevent 2 or more PC's from being on the same network with the same IP because there isn't enough IP's to go around if they were all static.

Dynamic IP's will change on every reboot.


BTW, this belongs in the Geeks R Us Forum Aloha, KH

[AEgeus]

Maybe if you tell us under what circumstances you are asking this question then we can help.

If at home you most likely have the same IP. Wireless/wired routers DHCP is setup for a couple hours lease but if you are the only one conencting you're bound to get the same LAN IP over and over. Your WAN IP, or the IP your ISP gives you, is also likely a dynamic IP but set for a couple hours/days lease so you're more apt to get the same IP over and over.

You can always do a test.
log onto an account goto "Start/Run.." and type "cmd" and hit enter.
Type "ipconfig" and your IP will show for the laptop.
Logoff and logon to the other account. Do the same thing. Compare.

Of course if you have a NAT router of somekind your IP will be nothing like your Internet IP address. You can find out your WAN IP by going to http://www.ipchicken.com

[ChloroFiend]

Originally Posted by loon

but that would be for dial up if you had broad band then it would be the same ip. or what you can do is do an ip test.

Nope, broadband uses DHCP (dynamic host configuration protocol, aka dynamic IP addressing) just the same as dial-up does.

Originally Posted by Krazy Hawaiian

Dynamic IP's will change on every reboot.

Not necessarily, especially with broadband connections. You'll often maintain the same IP address for weeks, even with reboots. Now shutdowns >15 minutes...that will have a more likely result of losing your lease.