ip address/mac address question

when i power-cycle my router does that reset my ip address?

and if i do that, could my isp still track my bandwidth usage?

i'm assuming that they track it by mac address rather than ip

comcast's bandwidth meter has sat at 229gb for a few days..

though i've been doing some trafficking; why isn't it updating?

here's a treat for you since you might help me figure this out:

dem eyes

it depends entirely upon your ISP and what package you have, with regards to your IP address changing.

for example, my provider Virgin Media (cable broadband) always gives me a static IP address (even though i haven't paid for it). i'm not sure if that's the case for all cable providers, but my ex used to get a different IP address if she rebooted her cable modem and router (her provider was Roadrunner, TimeWarner).

if you're running ADSL, then you're likely to get a different IP address as long as your service doesn't include a static IP as part of the package (Be Internet here provides an optional extra for this).

if you're on that FIOS thing that you guys have over there, i have no idea about that.

as far as them being able to track your bandwidth usage, i'm pretty sure they'll get you any and every way they can.

it depends on if your ISP assigns dynamic IPs or not. most do (and will charge you extra if you want/need a static IP), but these days it's a far cry from the days of dialup when you could be assigned a new IP every time you reconnected. with the average ISP that assigns dynamic IPs, you could expect it to change maybe once every couple of months, and it's only the most local subnet that will change. i.e. out of an IP address aaa.bbb.ccc.ddd it's only the .ddd part that will change if they assign you a new IP.

they won't track by MAC, because they don't need to (and MACs can be changed, anyway). their routing equipment will keep track of who you are even if the .ddd part changes. i dunno why your usage meter isn't increasing, though.

the other case is that the router at your nearest ISP hub is what provides the IP to the internet (using NAT) in which case you could be sharing a single IP address with many people in your locale (most famous example of this being AOL).

edit: what osc said, basically, yeh. static IP assignation is still not that common for domestic ISPs, but it's on the increase, osc.

thanks homeslices, everyone else please feel free to enjoy dem eyes

  On 6/1/2011 at 2:30 AM, kaini said:

static IP assignation is still not that common, but it's on the increase, osc.

yeah i thought it wasn't very common, but wasn't entirely sure. also my experience is kinda UK centric. thanks for the backup.

i'm on 20mbps cable (<3) and i think my IP has changed only three times or some shit in as many years. usually after their shit goes down and has to be rebooted, which to their credit has only happened thrice in as many years.

i'm on 50Mbps cable, waiting for news on if we can get the 100Mbps upgrade in the next month or so.

i'm pretty sure that my IP address hasn't changed since we got it installed (as 10Mbps, back in 2005/2006)

my mate has the same ISPs 100mbps package (he runs a bunch of servers for various games), and as envious as i am, i can't really justify to myself paying the extra. i mean, my porn torrents download at an acceptably fast rate as it is.

haha yeah, i'm only considering it because it's only an extra £8 a month on top of what we're currently paying. so for double the speed, may as well get it you know?