Knowing the IP address of the computer is very important to set up an Internet connection, which leads to a very commonly expressed problem of retrieving ones IP from ones own computer. Here's how you go about it.
You know that the IP address is a very important number which you need to know when you’re setting up an Internet connection. A lot of times you may have tried to install the Internet connection all by yourself, but the whole thing stops at that point where you are asked your IP address.
Through DOS
The simplest and most common way to find the IP address is using the command prompt. On Windows XP or any other version of Windows operating system, press ‘Start’ on the bottom left hand side of the screen. Left click on ‘All Programs’ or ‘Programs’ as it may be called based on the version of Windows you’re using.
Then left click on ‘Accessories’. Then left click on ‘command prompt’. The command prompt will open a small window. Just type the words ‘ipconfig’ into the command prompt and press enter. The computer will display the IP number as either ‘IP address’ or ‘Ipv4 address’.
Without DOS
The answer to how do I find my IP address in XP and Windows Vista without DOS, is the same. First Click on the ‘Start’ button on the bottom left of your screen. Then left click on ‘Network’ or ‘My Network Places’. Then left click on properties.
The windows Vista will open the ‘Network and Sharing Tab’. Then you will find a tab known as ‘view status’ next to ‘Wireless Network Connection’ or ‘Local Area Connection’. Click on the ‘details’ tab and you will find your IP address under ‘Ipv4 IP address’.
Linux
Linux is a different operating system from Windows and runs in a totally different way. To locate the IP address in Linux, you will need to login to a shell and type the command ‘ifconfig’. This command will give you the IP address of the computer.
Macs
The other very common operating system is the one run on an Apple computer, known as Macintosh. This operating system too is quite different from the Windows and Linux systems, and hence, requires a completely different way of finding the IP address. You first click on the ‘Menu’ and then click on ‘system preferences’.
Once in the system preferences, click on ‘network’, the network preferences window will pop up. Now you can find the IP address by clicking on ‘status’.
As you can see the ways of finding the IP address on various operating systems are different. If all else fails, you can simply search for ‘what’s my IP address’ on Google and you will find several websites which will tell you your IP address!