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Question: What Is an IP Address Conflict?

Answer: An IP address conflict occurs when two computers on a LAN (local area network) or the Internet have been assigned the same IP address. IP conflicts between two computers normally render either one or both of them unusable for network operations.

How IP Address Conflicts Happen

Two computers can acquire conflicting IP addresses in any of several ways:

* A system administrator assigns two computers on the LAN the same static IP address

* A system administrator assigns a computer a static IP address within the local network's DHCP range (dynamic IP range), and the same address is automatically assigned by the local DHCP server.

* A malfunction in the network's DHCP server allows the same dynamic address to automatically be assigned to multiple computers.

* An Internet Service Provider (ISP) accidentally assigns two customers the same IP address (either statically or dynamically).

* A mobile computer is put into standby / hibernate mode and then awakened later.

Note that other forms of IP conflicts can also occur on a network. For example, one computer may experience an IP address conflict with itself if that computer is configured with multiple network adapters. System administrators may also create IP conflicts by accidentally connecting two ports of a network switch or router to each other.

Recognizing IP Address Conflicts

On most Microsoft Windows computers, if you attempt to set a fixed (static) IP address that is already active on the local network, you will receive the following pop-up error message:

* The static IP address that was just configured is already in use on the network. Please reconfigure a different IP address.

On newer Microsoft Windows computers having dynamic IP conflicts, you should receive a balloon error message in the Taskbar as soon as the operating system detects the issue:

* There is an IP address conflict with another system on the network.

Sometimes, especially on...