dynamic or static?

how do I tell if an IP address is static

[the_nerd]

Hi,

I'm still trying to weed out those nice guys that take their time and steal my content ....

If I knew an IP address is fixed, I could show them the door permantently as opposed to dynamic IP addresses.

So, is there a way to know which is which?

Thanks,

the_nerd

[wilderness]

I'm not aware of any way to differntiate, however that doesn't mean that one doesn't exist.

The recognition is even more pronounced in RIPE ranges than ARIN ranges, as in Europe it's not unusual for the provider to switch the customer to an entirely different Class A or B range.

I have some visitors with RR-cable who although they are normally provided with a static range of the same, there is an occasional switch to an alternative Class A.

AOL, forget about it.

[GaryK]

A couple of things I've noticed are also helpful. Some static residential and business IP Addresses have the word static in the PTR; mine does. If a WHOIS indicates the IP Address is Direct Assignment it is probably static.

[Umbra]

I use a Multi-RBL Lookup (I use the website that now appears #1 on Google for that keyword phrase). I don't know if it's 100% accurate, but one or more sources will state if the IP address is dynamic.

[edited by: Umbra at 8:07 pm (utc) on Oct. 24, 2006]

[gregbo]

There is no way to determine algorithmically whether an IP address is static or dynamic. Furthermore, even if there was, you cannot assume that only static addresses steal content. For example, botnets compromise all types of computers, including those whose addresses are obtained dynamically. These compromised computers can be used to steal content, generate fraudulent clicks and/or impressions, launch DDoS attacks, etc.

[ronburk]

I don't know if it's 100% accurate,

I do. It ain't. I can flick any address in my subnet from being "static" (that is to say, assigned to a particular machine until further notice) to "dynamic" (that is to say, available for the DHCP server to hand out to the next machine that connects to the subnet).

The reason you can't distinguish between "static" and "dynamic" IP addresses is because the difference lies, not in the address, but in how someone chooses to use it.

That said, one can identify large swaths of IP addresses belonging to large ISPs that are almost always "dynamic". That's largely useless information, except possibly for the ability to view them as more likely to be spammers if they're connecting to your SMTP server.