Using the PING Command to Check an Address

Before you assign a static IP address, you should make sure that the address isn't already in use or reserved for use with DHCP. You can use the PING command to see whether an address is in use. Open a command prompt and type ping, followed by the IP address you want to check.

To test the IPv4 address 10.0.10.12, you would use the following command:

To test the IPv6 address FEC0::02BC:FF:BECB:FE4F:961D, you would use the following command:

If you receive a successful reply from the PING test, the IP address is in use and you should try another one. If the request times out for all four PING attempts, the IP address isn't active on the network at this time and probably isn't in use. However, a firewall could be blocking your PING request. Your company's network administrator would also be able to confirm whether an IP address is in use.

Configuring a Static IPv4 or IPv6 Address

One local area network (LAN) connection is available for each network adapter installed. These connections are created automatically. To configure static IP addresses for a particular connection, complete the following steps:

1. Click Start and then click Network. In Network Explorer, click Network And Sharing Center on the toolbar.
2. In Network And Sharing Center, click Manage Network Connections.
3. In Network Connections, right-click the connection you want to work with and then select Properties.
4. In the Local Area Connection Status dialog box, click Properties. This displays the Local Area Connection Properties dialog box.
5. Double-click Internet Protocol Version 6 (TCP/IPv6) or Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) as appropriate for the type of IP address you are configuring.
6. For an IPv6 address, do the following:
   • Click Use The Following IPv6 Address and then type the IPv6 address in the IPv6 Address text box. The IPv6 address you assign to the computer must not be used anywhere else on the network.
   • Press the Tab key. The Subnet Prefix Length field ensures that the computer communicates over the network properly. Windows Vista should insert a default value for the subnet prefix into the Subnet Prefix Length text box. If the network doesn't use variable-length subnetting, the default value should suffice, but if it does use variable-length subnets, you'll need to change this value as appropriate for your network.
7. For an IPv4 address, do the following:
   • Click Use The Following IP Address and then type the IPv4 address in the IP Address text box. The IPv4 address you assign to the computer must not be used anywhere else on the network.
   • Press the Tab key. The Subnet Mask field ensures that the computer communicates over the network properly. Windows Vista should insert a default value for the subnet prefix into the Subnet Mask text box. If the network doesn't use variable-length subnetting, the default value should suffice, but if it does use variable-length subnets, you'll need to change this value as appropriate for your network.
8. If the computer needs to access other TCP/IP networks, the Internet, or other subnets, you must specify a default gateway. Type the IP address of the network's default router in the Default Gateway text box.
9. DNS is needed for domain name resolution. Type a preferred address and an alternate DNS server address in the text boxes provided.
10. When you're finished, click OK twice and then click Close. Repeat this process for other network adapters and IP protocols you want to configure.
11. With IPv4 addressing, configure WINS as necessary, following the technique outlined in the "Configuring WINS Resolution" section of this tutorial.