When should I use a static or dynamic IP address?

It is ideal to use a static IP address for devices on your network that will need to be accessed very reliably by other systems or devices on the network. A device set with a static IP address makes sure that the device is easily found on the network, since the IP address will not change. It is also recommended to use static IP addresses for devices within the network that are accessed by the Internet (as in the case of a web server) or when it is critical that a data connection is not interrupted. Two examples of devices that we would recommend using static IP addresses for are network print servers and serial over IP devices. A dynamic IP address is convenient to use for home networks, where you want it to be as easy as possible for new network devices to be added or removed, and your only concern is accessing the Internet with your network devices. Since most routers will assign IP addresses automatically using Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP), and most devices will have the option to use a dynamic IP address selected by default, this often requires the least amount of configuration. You can have some devices, such as computers, use DHCP to automatically obtain an available IP address from your router, while other devices, like your network print servers and serial over IP devices use static IP addresses.