TCP/IP properties page

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.newusers (More info?)

"Mike Hyndman" <mike@tmphyndman.demon.co.uk> wrote in message
news:8ut7615fgpddruc1t0ulcj3th7pcif7ev1@4ax.com...
>I have two identical Dell laptops both running XP Pro + all updates, one
> shows only one TCP/IP properties dialogue box labled General; the second
> PC ha two TCP/IP properties dialogue boxes, labled Geneal and Alternate
> Configuration. Does anybody know why this is so?
> TIA
> Mike H

The one showing two pages has it's IP configuration set to "Automatically
assign".
THe Alternate page is then added so you define a specific alternate
configuration.
Can come in handy if you have a laptop usually hooked up to the company
network and maybe a dial-in when working at home and no (company)DHCP server
can be found.
If you manually configure the IP configuration, the alternate tab will
disappear.
george

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.newusers (More info?)

inline...


"Mike Hyndman" <mike@tmphyndman.demon.co.uk> wrote in message
news:5j88611rlddj84407qq49646vqrids4ibk@4ax.com...
> Thanks George,
> I realise that, what I am asking is why does one PC show only one
> dialogue box yet its twin shows two.
unless I misunderstand you, one machine shows one property dialog because it
is *not* set to 'automatically assigned';
the other is showinf two, because it *is* set to 'automatically assigned'.
The appearance of the second dialog box is 'dynamic', ie. when general is
set on 'automatic' the second one is there., otherwise it is not.

hth ?

george



> MikeH
>
>>
>>"Mike Hyndman" <mike@tmphyndman.demon.co.uk> wrote in message
>>news:8ut7615fgpddruc1t0ulcj3th7pcif7ev1@4ax.com...
>>>I have two identical Dell laptops both running XP Pro + all updates, one
>>> shows only one TCP/IP properties dialogue box labled General; the second
>>> PC ha two TCP/IP properties dialogue boxes, labled Geneal and Alternate
>>> Configuration. Does anybody know why this is so?
>>> TIA
>>> Mike H
>>
>>The one showing two pages has it's IP configuration set to "Automatically
>>assign".
>>THe Alternate page is then added so you define a specific alternate
>>configuration.
>>Can come in handy if you have a laptop usually hooked up to the company
>>network and maybe a dial-in when working at home and no (company)DHCP
>>server
>>can be found.
>>If you manually configure the IP configuration, the alternate tab will
>>disappear.
>>george
>>
>

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.newusers (More info?)

Actually Mike,

It is the other way around.
Imagine if you will, the more or less 'standard' way of using machines
(laptops notably) in a company environment and being allowed to take it home
to do 'distance-working' or other stuff.
In companies it is very common to use automatically assigned IP addresses
via DHCP, so the network card would be configured as such.
Now comes the problem.
You're at home and that company-DHCP server is no good to you for your home
network, so you won't get an address assigned then.
In comes the 'alternate' possibility.
Here's where you would define your 'home-network-address' and all would be
well in both locations, company and home, without you having to muck about
with re-configuration of the TCP/IP stack, depending on the location you
happen to be in.
Don't forget, MS built this stuff with companie-setups in mind and not
necessarily the individual home-user's one.

george

"Mike Hyndman" <mike@tmphyndman.demon.co.uk> wrote in message
news3qc61d59n3lsevr6hh9tiqhgn4kp1l0ib@4ax.com...
>
>
> Thanks again George
> You got it!though why two pages are required for alternate TCP/IP
> configs when set to Auto is a mystery. It would seem more logical to
> have an alternate option when the first page is set to "specified", then
> for whatever reason (on a specified TCP/IP WiFi connection was not
> available for example) it would select the alternate "dynamic" page and
> configure accordingly.
>>unless I misunderstand you, one machine shows one property dialog because
>>it
>>is *not* set to 'automatically assigned';
>>the other is showinf two, because it *is* set to 'automatically assigned'.
>>The appearance of the second dialog box is 'dynamic', ie. when general is
>>set on 'automatic' the second one is there., otherwise it is not.
>>
>>hth ?
>>
>>george
>
> many thanks
> Mike H
>>
>