How to setup a static IP address for my local area network:

For Windows 95/98/ME: (For Windows 2000 and XP, skip to step 14)

Step 1. Go to your desktop and double click on My Computer, and then
double click on the Control Panel.

Step 2. When the Control Panel appears double click on the Network
icon

Step 3. When the "Network" window comes up, select the TCP/IP line
that is associated with the Ethernet Adapter that you use to connect
to the Internet.

- If the word TCP/IP appears by itself, select that line.

Step 4. Click on the Properties button.

Step 5. Choose the IP Address tab. Select Specify an IP Address, and
input:

- IP Address: 192.168.1.4 for example.

Depending on your router, the internal IP address you can use might be different.
Consult the manual of your router/firewall for valid internal IP addresses
that you are allowed to use.

(Please note that the internal IP address numbers you specify must be
unique for each computer you use this procedure for.)

Step 6. Input your subnet mask:

- Subnet Mask: 255.255.255.0 for example.

The subnet mask of 255.255.255.0 will work in most cases.

Depending on your router, the subnet mask address you can use might be different.
Consult the manual of your router/firewall for valid subnet mask addresses
that you are allowed to use. Your router may also have a subnet mask that it is using
which is provided by your ISP (Internet Service Provider). This subnet mask may be
displayed in your router's settings.

Step 7. Now click on Gateway tab and input:

- IP Address: 192.168.1.1 for example.

Depending on your router, the default gateway address you can use might be different.
Consult the manual of your router/firewall for your default gateway IP address.

The default gateway address is usually the IP address you use when accessing
your router's settings from your web browser.

Input: 192.168.1.1 into New
gateway and click Add

Step 8. Click on the DNS Configuration tab

Step 9. Click on the Enable DNS option.

Step 10. In "Host Name" input computer, and skip "Domain Name"

Step 11. Input your DNS server addresses:

Depending on your router, the DNS server addresses you can use might be different.
Consult the manual of your router/firewall for the correct DNS server addresses
that you are allowed to use.

If your router is capable of DNS resolution then you might be able to input your default gateway
address for DNS resolution. Otherwise, you input the DNS servers that are provided
to you by your ISP (Internet Service Provider).

To find out what settings are the correct ones to use should be easy.
You simply try different settings until your computer is able to access the internet.

The DNS server addresses are usually the DNS server addresses listed when accessing
your router's settings from your web browser.

If all else fails, then you can use an open DNS server.

At the time that this tutorial was written, you can use the open these open DNS server addresses:

4.2.2.2 or 4.2.2.3 or 4.2.2.4 or 4.2.2.5 or 4.2.2.6

Just make sure that you are choosing "Specify an IP address".

Step 12. Click OK and OK

- Windows may prompt you to have the Windows CD-ROM. If you do not
have the CD-ROM please try specifying c:\windows\options\cabs.

Step 13. Now Windows will ask you if you would like it to restart.
Please let windows restart.

For Windows 2000/XP:
Step 14. Go to your desktop and double click on My Computer (Located on
the Start Menu in Windows XP) and then double click on the Control
Panel.

Step 15. When the Control Panel appears double click on the Network
Connections or the Network and Dial-Up Connections icon.

Step 16. Double click on the Local Area Connection that controls your
Ethernet Card (Usually the first listed).

Step 17. "Local Area Connection Status" will appear. Click Properties

Step 18. Select the Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) and click Properties

Step 19. Change the option from, "Obtain an IP address Automatically"
to, "Use the following IP address:", and
input:

- IP Address: 192.168.1.4 for example.

Depending on your router, the internal IP address you can use might be different.
Consult the manual of your router/firewall for valid internal IP addresses
that you are allowed to use.

(Please note that the internal IP address numbers you specify must be
unique for each computer you use this procedure for.)

Step 20. Input your subnet mask:

- Subnet Mask: 255.255.255.0 for example.

The subnet mask of 255.255.255.0 will work in most cases.

Your computer might automatically detect the proper subnet mask address.
To make it do so, just left-click on the box where you enter your subnet mask
address. The numbers might automatically appear.

Step 21. Enter your default gateway:

- IP Address: 192.168.1.1 for example.

Depending on your router, the default gateway address you can use might be different.
Consult the manual of your router/firewall for your default gateway IP address.

The default gateway address is usually the IP address you use when accessing
your router's settings from your web browser.

Step 22. Input your DNS server addresses:

Depending on your router, the DNS server addresses you can use might be different.
Consult the manual of your router/firewall for the correct DNS server addresses
that you are allowed to use.

To find out what settings are the correct ones to use should be easy.
You simply try different settings until your computer is able to access the internet.

The DNS server addresses are usually the DNS server addresses listed when accessing
your router's settings from your web browser.

If all else fails, then you can use an open DNS server.

Usually, a high speed internet connection uses the DNS servers from your ISP (Internet Service Provider). If those servers have problems, then you might have intermittent internet service. Using an open DNS server instead of using those from your ISP may improve the stability of your internet connection.

At the time that this tutorial was written, you can use these open DNS server addresses:

4.2.2.2 or 4.2.2.3 or 4.2.2.4 or 4.2.2.5 or 4.2.2.6

Just make sure that you are choosing "Use the following DNS server addresses".