<div align="justify"><p><b>TCP/IP Configuration</b> </p><p>TCP/IP Configuration can be accessed in Windows 9X/ME by going to Start > Run and typing in winipcfg in the open dialog box. This utility lets you view all your current TCP/IP settings in a single place. By clicking on More Info, additional information regarding the network can be viewed. If the IP address was dynamically allocated by a DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) server, then you can use the Release and Renew buttons to manage your allocatedIP address. </p><p>The information displayed on the screen is described below. </p><p><b>Adapter address</b> </p><p>This is a hexadecimal address, also called the MAC address, unique to every network adapter. It is hard coded into the card by the manufacturer, and consists of six 8-bit numbers. However remember that modems do not have this address-this is restricted to network adapters-the number for a modem or dial up adapter is set to a meaningless default number. </p><p><b>IP address </b> </p><p>This is the current IP networking address. Depending on whether the DHCP is used, this may be static or dynamically allotted. The static value is entered in the TCP/IP network configuration menu. </p><p><b>Subnet Mask</b> </p><p>This is used to mask a portion of the IP address, to determine the subnet where the computer is located-within the internal network. All computers running TCP/IP must have the subnet mask defined. </p><p><b>Default Gateway</b> </p><p>This is the IP address of the computer that provides the connection to a remote network. The gateway computer is the computer that TCP/IP will use to communicate and route data destined for computers on remote networks. </p><p>Clicking on it will display the following details: </p><p><b>DHCP Server</b> </p><p>This entry indicates the IP address of the DHCP server. The DHCP server, when present, will dynamically assign an IP address to the machine upon connecting to the network. Clicking on the Release button will release the IP address, and the Renew button requests a new IP address from the DHCP server. </p><p><b>Primary and Secondary WINS Server</b> </p><p>These settings specify the IP address of the Primary and Secondary WINS Server, if present. The WINS servers translate the NetBIOS names into the corresponding IP addresses. </p><p><b>Lease Obtained and Leased Expired</b> </p><p>These values show when the current IP address was obtained and when it is due to expire. You can use the Release and Renew buttons to release and renew your current IP address. In any case, the DHCP client automatically attempts to renew the lease, when 50 per cent of the lease time has expired. </p><p><img src="http://www.hashdot.com/ipconfig.jpg" width="510" height="383" border="0" alt="" /> </p></div>