Chapter 1: Networking Fundamentals
1.6 Static vs dynamic IP
| Feature | Static IP | Dynamic IP |
|---|---|---|
| Assigned by | Manually by an admin (or reserved) | Automatically by a DHCP server |
| Changes? | Never, unless changed manually | May change on reboot / lease expiry |
| Best for | Servers, DNS records, printers, VPN endpoints | Laptops, phones, home users |
| Cost | Often extra (ISPs charge) | Usually included |
| AWS equivalent | Elastic IP | Auto-assigned public IPv4 |
DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) hands out IP address, subnet mask, default gateway and DNS server in four steps: Discover → Offer → Request → Acknowledge (DORA).