DHCP & Static IP Settings in Windows Registry

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Have you ever wondered where the network configuration settings like IP Address Subnet mask or the same settings provided by your DHCP server (propably your home broadband router) on a network interface or a wireless interface are stored on your computer?

Undoubtedly, these are stored in the Windows registry. While there is no need to change any of these values from Windows Registry as it is good enough to make the changes network settings, it is still good enough to where they are and what the related registry keys are.

Let’s look at the registry keys first and then look at the case of the static IP settings and DHCP based IP settings.

To view the registry keys:

1. Click Start -  Search (Start – Run in Windows XP/2003) and type “regedit”. This launches the WIndows Registry.

2.  In the registry, navigate to the following registry key

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Tcpip\Parameters]

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
     \SYSTEM
          \CurrentControlSet
               \Services
                    \Tcpip
                         \Interfaces
                            \<Interface GUID ex: {1BBA2BE4-D734-47DF-AEDC-6167F60E278D}>

Every network interface in your PC or server will have a unique Interface GUID as above.  Click on them to find the one appropriate to be checked.

Case 1: DHCP

Now, we know where the entries are. Lets now look at what the keys are.

DhcpIPAddress

This key holds the IP Address provided by the DHCP server to your PC. (In the screenshot shown, it is 192.168.0.3)

DhcpSubnetMask

This key holds the Subnet mask for the IP Address, again provided by the DHCP server. (In the screenshot it is 255.255.255.0)

DhcpDefaultGateway

This holds the IP Address of the Default Gateway for the network. (here 192.168.0.1)

DhcpServer

IP Address of the DHCP Server itself (192.168.0.1 here)

DhcpNameServer

Nameserver (DNS) IP Address (192.168.0.1 here)

Case 2 Static IP Address

In this case, its not the DHCP tha provides the IP Address Nameserver, default gateway etc its manually configured by hand from the network connection settings.

IPAddress

This key holds the IP Address provided by the DHCP server to your PC. (In the screenshot shown, it is 192.168.0.3)

SubnetMask

This key holds the Subnet mask for the IP Address, again provided by the DHCP server. (In the screenshot it is 255.255.255.0)

DefaultGateway

This holds the IP Address of the Default Gateway for the network. (here 192.168.0.1)

NameServer

Nameserver (DNS) IP Address (192.168.0.1,192.168.0.2 here)