Configure TCP/IP settings

  • Article

Applies To: Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2003 R2, Windows Server 2003 with SP1, Windows Server 2003 with SP2

To configure TCP/IP settings

  1. Open Network Connections.

  2. Right-click the connection you want to configure, and then click Properties.

  3. Do one of the following:

    • If the connection is a local area connection, on the General tab, in This connection uses the following items, click Internet Protocol (TCP/IP), and then click Properties.

    • If the connection is a dial-up or VPN connection, on the Networking tab, in This connection uses the following items, click Internet Protocol (TCP/IP), and then click Properties.

    • If the connection is an incoming connection, on the Networking tab, in Network components, click Internet Protocol (TCP/IP), and then click Properties.

  4. Do one of the following:

    • If you want IP settings to be assigned automatically, click Obtain an IP address automatically, and then click OK.

    • If you want to specify an IP address or a DNS server address, do the following:

      Click Use the following IP address, and in IP address, type the IP address.

      Click Use the following DNS server addresses, and in Preferred DNS server and Alternate DNS server, type the addresses of the primary and secondary DNS servers.

  5. To configure DNS, WINS, and IP settings, click Advanced.

  6. In a local area connection, selecting the Obtain an IP address automatically option enables the Alternate Configuration tab. Use this to enter alternate IP settings if your computer is used on more than one network. To configure DNS, WINS, and IP settings, click User configured on the Alternate Configuration tab.

Notes

  • To open Network Connections, click Start, click Control Panel, and then double-click Network Connections.

  • You should use automated IP settings (DHCP) whenever possible for all connections because they eliminate the need to configure settings such as IP address, DNS server address, and WINS server address.

  • The Alternate Configuration settings specify a second set of IP settings that are used when a DHCP server is not available. This is very useful for laptop users who often switch between two different network environments such as DHCP and static IP network environments.

Information about functional differences

  • Your server might function differently based on the version and edition of the operating system that is installed, your account permissions, and your menu settings. For more information, see Viewing Help on the Web.

See Also

Concepts

Network Connections Best Practices
TCP/IP
New ways to do Network Connections tasks