How come sometimes my local area connection displays my actual IP address?

[Koenigsegg]

Normally, it'll show my IP address and default gateway as 192.168.0.x, as it should right?

But sometimes when I reset the router/dsl modem instead of that, it shows the IP address as my actual IP address on the internet rather than on my computer. What causes it to do this?

 

[spidey07]

I'm guessing it is a 169.x.x.x address?

If so, windows will assign itself an address in that range if it can't reach a DHCP server.

 

[Kelemvor]

Or if the router is resetting your computer might actually be connecting to the cable modem until the router's DHCP server kicks in...

But if it's a 169 number then it's just a made up number. My roadrunner IP is like 65.x.x.x or something like that but I've never seen that on my computer.

 

[Koenigsegg]

Originally posted by: FrankyJunior
Or if the router is resetting your computer might actually be connecting to the cable modem until the router's DHCP server kicks in...

But if it's a 169 number then it's just a made up number. My roadrunner IP is like 65.x.x.x or something like that but I've never seen that on my computer.

Hmm that makes sense.

And it's not a 169 number, the web actually works like it normally does on my computer, but the wireless doesn't..

 

[spidey07]

The only thing I can think of is the routing/dhcp process hasn't completed or fully booted up and the router is just acting like a switch for a short amount of time. Your computer lost connectivity and as soon as it sees a link up (ethernet link) it sends out a DHCP broadcast looking for an address. The router (not fully booted up yet and software loaded, just switches it as normal broadcasting it out the WAN port.

But man that is a real stretch.