If you check your IP on your machine and it starts with ‘169.’ that’s a made-up IP address.Ī DHCP request for a dynamic IP address is very simple: your computer broadcasts to all the devices listening on its network “Would the DHCP server listening please assign me an IP address!”. That means that rather than permanently assigning a specific IP to that machine, the machine “asks” for an IP address when it connects to the network.ĭynamic IP addresses are simpler to configure, and allow for IP addresses to be re-used when the machines that they were temporarily assigned to are taken offline.
The vast majority of machines are configured to connect to the network using DHCP to get what’s called a “dynamic” IP address. It’s that last one that needs a little explanation.Īn IP address is how your computer is located on its network. That means that it detects that the network cable is plugged in, or that it was able to connect to a wireless access point. Your computer was able to connect the network in one way, but was unable to complete the next step.
“Limited connectivity” happens when your computer can connect to the network … but it can’t.
