Java Glossary : face IP

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face IP

When you use a router on a LAN, the outside world sees you as the external face IP of your router, not the IP of your machine. There are five IPs to be concerned with. working from the outside in:

The IP of the computer somewhere on the net that does DNS look up for you, e.g. 64.59.160.13.
The IP of the computer your router talks directly to at the ISP headquarters. This is also called the Gateway IP, e.g. 24.68.232.1
face IP e.g. 24.68.231.84, the IP your router presents to the outside world. This is how various websites know you (and anyone else on your LAN accessing the Internet). This is sometimes called your public IP, but that usually refers to a static IP, more or less permanently assigned, where a face IP can change daily. Since this is the IP of your entire LAN to the outside world, it is sometimes called the WAN IP.
The internal IP of your router e.g. 192.168.2.1 on the LAN. This is sometimes called the gateway IP.
The IP of your computer on the LAN, e.g. 92.168.2.2.

To find out your face IP, the IP that outside world (beyond your firewall) thinks your IP and domain name is, try

IPchicken.com: tells your face ip, and which ports you have open.
http://checkip.dyndns.org:8245/
http://www.whatismyipaddress.com has many annoying ads you must close to discover the answer.

To find out your internal LAN IP, on windows run ipconfig.exe. It will alwasy have the form 192.168.2.x.

IP ¤ whois

home	Canadian Mind Products
	mindprod.com IP:[24.87.56.253]
	Your IP:[80.134.30.163]
	You are visitor number 468.
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