desktop picking up wierd IP

Ish · 12 Nov 2008 at 11:51

Hi

We have 10 dekstops connected to a router via switch. Our Server is also connected to the switch.

All the desktops are set to DHCP and automatically take an IP from the router.

Last week one of the machines started taking a wierd IP starting with 169 and the network icon had a yellow triangle in it. i had to manually set it's IP settings for it to work.

Today another DHCP machine has started picking up this 169 IP.

What could be causing this?

Thanks

Confused · 12 Nov 2008 at 12:07

IP addresses of 169. are automatic Private IP addresses - and indicates that it cannot contact a DHCP server on the network.

This could be as simple as the router (which is supplying the DHCP service) needs restarting, or it could be other things. Maybe it's set to only give out X addresses, and that pool of addresses has been used up by other devices?

Uhtred · 12 Nov 2008 at 12:09

dhcp isn't working properly so as your address leases expire the clients can't get new addresses. 169 means it couldn't get a dhcp address. Does your server give out addresses or does the router?

Ish · 12 Nov 2008 at 12:11

The router gives out the IP addresses but I didn't try restarting the router. I will give it a try. Thanks for the help.

Skidilliplop · 12 Nov 2008 at 14:26

If you're getting issues like this they will probably recurr. For a network so small either shift DHCP server service off of the router or move to static IPs. Plenty of free DHCP servers out there.

169.254.0.0/16 are link local addresses and are almost always a result of DHCP failure.