Intro lesson
IP Addresses, DHCP and DNS Without the Jargon
Learn how a device gets an address, finds another network and looks up a website—with one simple office example.
Reviewed September 2026 · 3 minute read
Four settings, four jobs
| Setting | Plain meaning | Example for a training network |
|---|---|---|
| IP address | The device’s address on this network. | 192.168.10.25 |
| Subnet / prefix | Tells the device which addresses are local. | 192.168.10.0/24 |
| Default gateway | The next stop for destinations outside the local subnet. | 192.168.10.1 |
| DNS server | Looks up names such as a website or company service. | 192.168.10.1 in this example; it can be a separate service. |
DHCP usually supplies these settings automatically for a limited time called a lease. A reservation can give a particular device a consistent address through DHCP. A manually assigned address must fit the approved plan and avoid conflicts.
What happens when you open a website?
- JoinYour device gets a network connection and usable settings.
- Look upDNS supplies address information for the name.
- ReachTraffic follows the local network and gateway when needed.
- UseThe browser and service complete their connection.
Worked example
The new laptop cannot reach anything
The working laptop has the expected settings. The new laptop has an unexpected address and no useful gateway. Investigate how it received its settings, the selected network and available DHCP leases before blaming the website.
If names fail but an approved service-specific connectivity test succeeds, investigate name resolution. Typing a raw address into a browser is not a universal DNS test: HTTPS and shared hosting can require the name.
You may see two address families
IPv4 uses addresses such as 192.168.10.25. IPv6 uses longer addresses containing colons. Many devices use both. IPv6 settings and access rules also need testing; a successful IPv4 check is only part of the picture.
Read, compare, record
On a device you are allowed to inspect, open the connection details and record its network name, addresses, prefix, gateway and DNS servers. Keep that record private. Compare it with the approved plan or ask support to interpret it.
A printer address keeps changing. What would you propose?
Ask the network administrator whether a DHCP reservation fits the design. Do not assign an apparently unused address at random; it may already belong to another device.
Put it into practice
Check what you learned
Choose an answer for each question, then check your understanding. Your answers stay in this browser.
Read the answers and explanations
- DNS lookup.
DNS looks up names. DHCP can supply the DNS server setting, but those are different jobs.
- Check the address plan and correct the duplicate assignment.
A duplicate address can disrupt communication. Correct the approved configuration rather than changing unrelated equipment.
- No; check the required IPv6 behavior and applications too.
IPv4 and IPv6 can follow different configuration and policy paths.
Sources and further reading
- Microsoft: how DHCP supplies network settings
Explains address leases, reservations and the settings a DHCP server supplies.
- Microsoft: what DNS does
Explains name lookup and why business services depend on it.
- IETF RFC 8200: IPv6
The protocol reference behind IPv6; use it for deeper study after the short lesson.
Keep your momentum
Ready for the next step?
If you can explain the example and your answer, try the next lesson. Revisit the feedback whenever you need it.
FryAVSI · Updated September 10, 2026
Reference this lesson or use a section’s direct link for a particular chart or example. How to cite an example.
FryAVSI · Northeast Ohio and beyond
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