As an IT admin, the ability to assign static IP addresses to computers on an Active Directory (AD) network is an important task for ensuring network security and stability. Static IP addresses are typically assigned to servers and other important devices, as they provide a consistent IP address for other devices to connect to. Additionally, static IP addresses can be used to identify specific devices on the network, making it easier to troubleshoot and manage them. In this article, we will discuss how to assign a static IP to a computer on an AD network.
The first step to assigning a static IP address to a computer on an AD network is to determine the IP range of the network. This will usually be provided by your network administrator, but if you are unsure, you can use the IP Scanner tool to identify the IP range of your network. Once you have the IP range, you can then determine the IP address of the computer you are assigning the static IP to.
Once you have determined the IP address of the computer, you can then assign a static IP address to it. To do this, you will need to open the Network and Sharing Center in the Control Panel. On the left side of the window, click Change adapter settings. You should then see a list of network adapters that are connected to the computer. Right-click the adapter you want to assign the static IP to and select Properties.
In the adapter Properties window, select Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) and click on Properties. You should then see a window with two sections, one for assigning a static IP address and one for obtaining an IP address automatically. Select Use the following IP address and enter the IP address for the computer. You should also enter the appropriate subnet mask, default gateway and preferred DNS server. Once you have entered all of the necessary information, click OK to save your changes.
You will then need to configure the DNS server settings. To do this, open the DNS Manager tool. In the DNS Manager, right-click the server you are adding the static IP to and select Properties. In the Properties window, select the Advanced tab. You should then see a window with a list of DNS servers. Select the DNS server that you are adding the static IP to and click Edit. In the Edit window, select the checkbox next to Set this server as the active server and click OK to save your changes.
Once you have finished configuring the server, you should then configure the computer to use the static IP address. To do this, open the Network and Sharing Center in the Control Panel. On the left side of the window, click Change adapter settings. You should then see a list of network adapters that are connected to the computer. Right-click the adapter you want to assign the static IP to and select Properties.
In the adapter Properties window, select Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) and click on Properties. You should then see a window with two sections, one for assigning a static IP address and one for obtaining an IP address automatically. Select Use the following IP address and enter the IP address for the computer. You should also enter the appropriate subnet mask, default gateway and preferred DNS server. Once you have entered all of the necessary information, click OK to save your changes.
Once you have finished configuring the computer to use the static IP address, you should then configure the Active Directory to recognize the computer. To do this, open the Active Directory Users and Computers tool. In the Users and Computers window, right-click the domain you are adding the computer to and select Properties. In the Properties window, select the Security tab and then click Advanced.
In the Advanced window, select the Add button. You should then see a window with two sections, one for selecting the object you want to add and one for setting the permissions for the object. In the object section, select the computer you are adding and click OK. In the permissions section, select the checkbox next to Allow this object to be configured by the service and click OK to save your changes.
Once you have completed all of the steps, you should then be able to assign a static IP address to a computer on an AD network. Remember, static IP addresses should only be used for servers and other important devices, as they provide a consistent IP address for other devices to connect to. Additionally, static IP addresses can be used to identify specific devices on the network, making it easier to troubleshoot and manage them. By following the steps outlined in this article, you should be able to easily assign a static IP address to a computer on an AD network.
