Understanding Computer Names and Addresses

All computers on a windows network have a name (computer or host name) and an address.

The name and address are used when the computer is used on a network. Although computer addresses are optional, a Windows computer always has a computer name.

The computer name is also called the host name and on a windows network they are the same.

The computer name is assigned at install but can be changed later (click on start menu and right click my computer>computer name>change).
Computer name change
To make using it easier make it something meaningful and short. I use WS1 (workstation 1) etc.

Note that all computer names on a network must be unique.

You may also find the computer name referred to as the Netbios name and host name. The netbios name arises from the fact that early Microsoft networks used the netbios networking protocols which required all devices to a have a unique name.

Although Microsoft moved away from the Netbios protocol many years ago they never removed the netbios name requirement hence the computer name.

Microsoft moved from Netbios to IP protocol which uses optional host names which are linked not tied to a computer. This means that on a TCP/IP network a computer can have many host names (nicknames).

On a microsoft network then

computer name=netbios name=host name

and even on a Microsoft network a computer can have several host names but only one computer name.

MAC Addresses and IP Addresses

Computers have two addresses commonly known as the physical address and the logical address.

Mac addresses (physical) are fixed, assigned by the network adapter manufacturer, and cannot be changed. IP addresses are assigned by the system administrator or automatically (using DHCP) and are also called logical addresses, and they can be changed.

Finding Your computer Name and Addresses

The easiest way is to open a command prompt (old DOS prompt) by going to start menu>run and typing cmd into the box. At the command prompt type

ipconfig /all

ipconfig-results

This will display the host name, Mac address (physical address) and IP address

If you computer isn’t connected to a computer network then the name and addresses aren’t really important. But if you are then you will find yourself needing to know and use the computer names to access files and printers located on other computers on your home network.

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