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TCP / IP

How do I use the Windows XP alternate TCP/IP configuration?

Laptop users often experience problems when moving between networks where DHCP servers aren't consistently used (e.g., moving between an office that uses DHCP to assign IP addresses and a home network that uses static IP addresses). If you configure your computer to use DHCP and no DHCP server is available, the machine will typically use an IP address in the range 169.254.0.1 to 169.254.255.254 with a subnet mask of 255.255.0.0. The actual IP address will depend on what IP addresses other machines on the local subnet have selected (XP will perform a limited test to ensure the Windows TCP/IP component doesn't use an address already in use). Because the local TCP/IP stack assigns no WINS, DHCP, or gateway information, all IP communication is limited to machines in the local subnet.

XP lets you create an alternate IP configuration that you can use when your system can't find a DHCP server. This alternate configuration lets you specify an IP address, subnet, gateway, and the other typical network settings. To create this alternate IP configuration, perform the following steps:

  1. Open the Network Connections applet (go to Start, Programs, Accessories, Communications and click Network Connections).
  2. Right-click the network adapter for which you want to specify an alternate IP configuration, then click Properties.
  3. Select Internet Protocol (TCP/IP), then click Properties.
  4. Under the General tab, ensure that you've configured the connection to use DHCP.
  5. Select the Alternate Configuration tab, select "User configured," then fill in the static IP address details you want the connection to use when the system can't find a DHCP server.
  6. Click OK.
  7. Click OK again to close all remaining windows.

XP stores the custom connection configuration settings under the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\
Tcpip\Parameters\Interfacesregistry subkey.

I do not have a network card, but would like to install TCP/IP.

Microsoft provide a Loopback adapter that can be used for the testing of TCP/IP. To install the Loopback adapter perform the following actions:

  1. Start the Control Panel (Start - Settings - Control Panel)
  2. Double click on the Network icon
  3. Click on the Adapters tab, and click Add
  4. Select MS Loopback Adapter and click OK
  5. You will then need to configure TCP/IP as normal
I have installed TCP/IP, what steps should I use to verify the setup is correct?

Follow the steps below:

  1. From a command prompt type
    ipconfig /all
    This will show information such as IP address, subnet mask and the physical address. Check the IP address and subnet mask are what you expect.
  2. Next there is a special IP address that is used for loopback testing 127.0.0.1, so try and ping this
    ping 127.0.0.1
    You should get 4 lines of
    Reply from 127.0.0.1: bytes=32 time<10ms TTL=128
    Pinging 127.0.0.1 does not send any traffic out on the network. If this does not work it means the TCP/IP stack is not loaded correctly so go back and check your configuration
  3. Next try and ping your own IP address, once again this will not send any traffic out on the Network, but it just confirms the software
    ping 200.200.200.53
    Once again you should get 4 reply messages. If this does not work, but the loopback did, you probably have typed the IP address wrong, go back and check your configuration.
  4. Try and ping the gateway.
    ping 200.200.200.1
    This is the first traffic going out over the network. The gateway should be on your subnet. If you fail to ping the gateway, check the gateway is up, and that your network is correctly connected.
  5. Ping something on the other side of the gateway, i.e. something not own your subnet
    ping 158.234.26.46
    If this does not work then the gateway may not be functioning correctly.
  6. If all of the above worked, than Name Resolution should be tested by pinging by name, this will test the HOSTS and/or DNS. If your machine name was john, and the domain savilltech.com, you would ping john.savilltech.com
    ping john.savilltech.com
    If this does not work, check in the Network Settings - Protocols - TCP/IP that the domain name is correct, also check the hosts file and the DNS.
  7. Next try and ping a name outside the network
    ping www.windows2000faq.com
    If this does not work then check with your ISP (Internet Service Provider). Also make sure the site you are trying to ping supports ICMP or PING will not work.
  8. If all of the above works then get down to the serious stuff and start surfing! :-)

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