Tips of How to Switch between DHCP and Static IP Network Automatically in Windows

If you are a mobile computer user and need to work in DHCP and static IP network environment from time to time, you may need to keep on changing the network TCP/IP properties on your laptop. It is really annoying and irritating to repeat this routine task each and every time when switching from one network to another especially when you are in the hurry to solve an urgent issue or need to get the task completed as sooner as possible. Now with this Alternate Configuration functionality offered by Microsoft, it will auto detect the network change and switch for you automatically without the hassle to manually configure it anymore.

The feature of Alternate Configuration is it enable TCP/IP uses alternative configuration if no DHCP server is detected. With such a design, your laptop will be auto switched from dynamic to static IP setting automatically. To enable Alternate Configuration, follow below steps:

i) Click Start menu -> Control Panel.
ii) Click Network Connections.
iii) Right click Local Area Connection and select Properties.
iv) Under General tab, scroll down until you see Internet Protocol (TCP/IP). Click on it and click Properties button.
v) Under General tab, select Obtain an IP address automatically. This setting is to obtain dynamic IP address if DHCP server is found in the network.
vi) Go to Alternate Configuration tab, select User configured. Enter the static IP of your alternate location. This setting is to allow TCP/IP uses static IP once DHCP server is not found.

After getting above steps done, if you work in office with DHCP server enabled, your laptop will use primary configuration to obtain dynamic IP automatically. Once your laptop switch to static IP network environement such as at home or production, your laptop will be auto switched to alternate configuration with the static IP you have configured.