How to release an IP address of a remote computer

Question

This is probably not just me. My apache server isn't reading the "if" portion of my code. I have `

     <div id="toolbar">
         <? if(isset($_SESSION["steamname"]))
            {
                    <a class="button-logout" href="steamauth/logout.php">Log Out</a> 

                }
            else
                {
                    <a class="button-login" href="steamauth/login_steam.php">Log In</a>

                }
        ?>
    </div>` 

In my index.php but in google chrome I get

<!--?   if(isset($_SESSION["steamname"]))
            {
                    <a class="button-logout" href="steamauth/logout.php"-->

and the other bottom half gets read. I doubt that php is missing on my machine as the other php portions of my code works just fine.

Solution

Look at your router. I assume you use a router. You never said! Cause it could be that you're on a hub/switch where Machine A was actually assigning all IP's and acting like a DHCP server. You also never said how you're looking at your network although I might assume you're using a file browser. Therefore, you really need to look at your router's details and things like lease times as well as just exactly what's assigning your network IP addresses.

For example, are your own network IP's "dynamically" assigned via DHCP from your own router or are they doled out somewhere else? Typically, IP's come from a router via DHCP but they could instead be assigned from a separate "DHCP server". So could it be that Machine A was doing more than just serving files? Or could it be that you're needlessly paying your ISP for more than one IP address?!!! (I sure hope not. But again, you didn't say.)

You might also want to look at DNS services too. Again, this is typically handled in a typical router where it's all too common to just let your ISP handle it by not assigning any IP for a better DNS service (one like Open DNS - http://www.opendns.com). You can always over ride DNS services either at the router level or even via each PC's IPv4 settings. But get it wrong and nothing is likely going to work. And that's assuming you're not running your own DNS server or relying on your own hosts lookup tables or something like that! (I'll also assume you're not using IPv6 since it's still not widely used too.) So assuming there aren't other weirdo considerations like null Ethernet cables or something, it really sounds like you simply need to wait for your router and network.

I think I should also say that there may still be other considerations such as network groups that XP doesn't easily deal with. Sharing files/folders and even file permissions may be other things to worry about. And that's just for starters! But I think you said the 3 PC's can at least share files so I hope I don't need to elaborate. (Not that I would since this is a drive by comment.)

Comments

[David Schwartz]

You kind of forgot to describe the problem. What does "was not seen on the network" mean? Did it have an IP address assigned? Could it reach the router? Could other machines ping it?

[Dave]

The easiest way to 'release' it (if I understand correctly) from the memory of the router is to restart the router - this means when it connects, the router will resend the IP's via DHCP etc. Is this what you meant?

[SixfootJames]

Thanks guys, I will try your suggestions of restarting the router now in the hope that it releases the IP addresses and assigns new ones. David S, I cannot see the PC on the network through regular Windows Explorer. I also use FING on my Android phone and normally, it will show me what PCs/Devices are on the network.

[SixfootJames]

Thanks Anon, let me start with the router and see if there is something I can do there. Will get back to you once I have tried everyone's suggestions.

[SixfootJames]

Thanks Anon. I managed with a mix and match of your suggestions