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It is now possible to obtain a static IP address with your ADSL account, but first lets start with what that means. A static IP address refers to a fixed Internet Protocol Address, this is the number assigned to every computer on the Internet. All computers need an IP address in order to use the Internet, as this is their address, without such an address, it would not be possible to ask a server in America to send you a website, for instance. Since there are not enough IP addresses to go round, ADSL accounts only assign an IP address to your ADSL line when the computer uses the Internet.

A normal ADSL account has a dynamic IP address, meaning that everytime you connect to the Internet, a new IP address is assigned to your computer. Should you want others to be able to connect to your computer it is not really possible with a normal ADSL line, as the person connecting to your machine would need to know what your IP address is in order to connect to your computer. Since a dynamci IP address keeps changing, third parties would not know what address to use to contact your computer.

In comes static IP addresses, now your ISP can assign a specific IP address just for your computer, meaning nobody else will use it and it will always stay the same. Now people can connect to your computer, since they know your specific address is always your computer.

The advantages of having a static IP address are numerous, for instance, if you are a gamer, and which to connect your game directly to a friends computer, the friend could connect to you using your fixedc IP address. However, if your fiend does not have a static IP address, you cannot connect to his box as his IP address keeps changing. It is good enough though that the friend can connect to your box, as only one fixed address is needed.

Other applications include hosting your own website, if you install IIS or Apache on your computer, then people surfing to your IP address will see your website. Additionally you may use your static IP address for FTP, friends could connect to your computer to upload and download files. Another great use is to set up your own email server, especially for a small business, and then email could be routed to go directly to your company server, instead of an ISP. This would mean a lot faster and more efficient access to email, and you have a lot more control over it.