**Using the ‘ipconfig’ command in Command Prompt:** This is a useful tip for network troubleshooting on a Windows machine

—

by

coeus
in

**Title: Using the ‘ipconfig’ Command in Command Prompt: A Useful Tip for Network Troubleshooting on a Windows Machine**

The ‘ipconfig’ command is an essential tool for network troubleshooting on a Windows machine. This command provides you with detailed information about your network interfaces, such as IP addresses, subnet masks, and default gateways. Understanding how to use the ‘ipconfig’ command can be incredibly beneficial when diagnosing network connectivity issues.

**Step 1: Opening the Command Prompt**

To use the ‘ipconfig’ command, you need to open the Command Prompt first. Here are the steps:

1. Press the `Windows key + R` simultaneously to open the Run dialog box.
2. Type `cmd` in the text field and hit `Enter`. This will open the Command Prompt.

**Step 2: Using the ‘ipconfig’ Command**

With the Command Prompt open, you can now use the ‘ipconfig’ command. Here’s how:

1. Simply type `ipconfig` at the command line and press `Enter`.

The basic ‘ipconfig’ command will display the IP address, subnet mask, and default gateway for all your network interfaces. For example:

“`
Ethernet adapter Ethernet:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . : domain.com
Link-local IPv6 Address . . . . . : fe80::1111:2222:3333:4444%10
IPv4 Address. . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.2
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1
“`

**Step 3: Using the ‘ipconfig’ Command with Switches**

The ‘ipconfig’ command can be used with several switches to display additional information or to refresh the DHCP configuration. Here are a few examples:

– `ipconfig /all`: This command displays detailed information about all network interfaces on your machine, including the MAC address, DNS servers, whether the interface is enabled for DHCP, and more.

– `ipconfig /renew`: This command will renew the DHCP configuration for all your network interfaces. If you’re having trouble with your internet connection, this command could help.

– `ipconfig /release`: This command will release the current DHCP configuration. Typically, you would use this command before using the `ipconfig /renew` command.

– `ipconfig /flushdns`: This command purges the DNS resolver cache. This can be useful if old entries in your DNS cache are causing connectivity issues.

**Example of using ‘ipconfig’ with switches:**

“`cmd
C:\> ipconfig /all
“`

This command will display detailed information about all network interfaces on your machine.

**Conclusion**

The ‘ipconfig’ command is a powerful tool for network troubleshooting on a Windows machine. By understanding how to use this command, you can diagnose a wide range of network connectivity issues. Whether you’re a system administrator or a regular user, mastering the ‘ipconfig’ command can save you a lot of time and effort.