Windows 7 - Assign different Static IPs for Wireless Networks

Hi everyone,

in Windows7, is there a way to assign a different static IP address/subnet/gateway setting for each wireless network I use? (without external software)

Thanks!
-Dom

You can't assign unique IP addresses per wireless network, but Windows does support multiple static IP Addresses/gateways per *NIC*. This support goes back to at least W2K. When you set a static address in the properties for TCP/IP, look for the Advanced button. That will take you to the screen you need.

There are some restrictions. Each network must be unique. For example you can't use 192.168.1.3 and 192.168.1.200 if the mask for both is 255.255.255.0.

Thanks, I understand this, but in my case I would prefer to use a static IP address for my home wireless network, and DHCP everywhere else. From what you tell me, this isnt possible for a single NIC, right?

It seems strange to me that nobody else needs this kind of functionality from a laptop...

Set your router to using Static IP, as apposed to auto config - DHCP. You should obtain static IP details from your ISP if you don't know it, cos a wrong setting will not allow you to connect to the internet. Then go into your wireless adapters tcp/ipv4 for each machine and manually set a different IP (all other details should be as per your ISP's details).

Right, you can't have have both DHCP and Static on a single NIC. Only multiple static addresses. One possible solution is if your router's DHCP server can support static assignments. You basically map the MAC address of your NIC card to a static IP address in the DHCP server. That way the laptop always gets the same address while letting the laptop stay DHCP.

What router are you using at home?

There is actually an way to set up a wireless adapter for both DHCP and Static info. In the TCP/IPv4 properties window there is a tab for 'Alternate Configuration'. So if you set the setting in the 'General' tab for DHCP, you can manually enter the IP, Subnet, default gateway, and DNS settings into the 'Alternate Configuration' tab area, by clicking on the 'User Configured' radio button.

In practice this works...however I have noticed that it takes a while (a few minutes) for Window's 7 to recognise that the DHCP settings don't work for the static route network and reconfigure the settings to the ones specified in the 'Alternate Configuration'. Nonetheless, it much less annoying than entering the details in manually each time!


-Peace-