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Configuring TCP/IP

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

Configuring TCP/IP

TCP/IP is installed by default. Before you configure TCP/IP you need to know:

  • Whether your network supports a dynamicTCP/IP configuration, which uses the Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP).

    A dynamic configuration is the simplest to complete and can be used if there is a DHCP server on your network. The DHCP server provides IP address, subnet mask, default gateway (IP router), DNS domain name, DNS server, and WINS server configuration information. TCP/IP is configured to use a dynamic configuration by default.

  • Whether your network requires a manualTCP/IP configuration.

    Some existing networks either do not use DHCP or require that TCP/IP configuration is performed manually for each computer.

  • Whether your computer uses an alternateTCP/IP configuration.

    For example, laptop computers are sometimes connected to a corporate network that provides dynamic addressing. At other times, laptops require an alternate, manual configuration for home networks.

For more information about configuration methods, see TCP/IP configuration methods.

If you do not use DHCP to configure TCP/IP dynamically, obtain the following information from your network administrator to configure TCP/IP manually:

  • The IP address and subnet mask for each network adapter that is installed on the computer.

  • The IP address for the local default gateway (IP router).

  • The name of your DNS domain and the IP addresses of the DNS servers on the network.

    For Active Directory deployment, the primary DNS suffix (also known as the primary domain name) of a computer is, by default, the name of the Active Directory domain that the computer has joined. If you want your computer's primary DNS suffix to be different from the name of the Active Directory domain that the computer has joined, see Change the DNS suffix of your computer.

  • The IP addresses for the WINS servers, if WINS services are available on your network.

For more information about configuration items, see TCP/IP configuration items.

For instructions about configuring TCP/IP, see Configure TCP/IP.

For information and instructions about securing TCP/IP, see Internet Protocol Security (IPSec)