[mythtv-users] Static IP vs. DHCP

[Brad DerManouelian]

On Dec 26, 2007, at 8:22 AM, John Drescher wrote:

> On Dec 26, 2007 11:10 AM, Carl Reynolds
> <mythtv-users at hyperbole-software.com> wrote:
>> There is another thread on the list about setting up server IPs and  
>> the
>> common advice on th list and in the guides is that the backend  
>> should be
>> set up on a local network with static IPs.
>>
>> When I first set up my machine, I followed this advice, but because  
>> of
>> various reasons, I needed to change my network to DHCP. I decided  
>> to try
>> entering the backend server name instead of the IP address in the  
>> server
>> address in myth-setup. It seems to work. The frontend sends a  
>> request to
>> the DHCP server, gets the IP address of the backend server and then  
>> uses
>> that to communicate with the backend.
>>
>> What am I missing? Why do people say that you need to use static IPs
>> with a split frontend/backend configuration? Is it because of the  
>> extra
>> time needed to make the IP request from the DHCP server?
>>
> I believe it is because mythtv-setup takes a numerical ip address and
> if your ip address changes you will not be able to connect. I have
> been using DHCP for years but my dhcp server never gives my machines
> different ip addresses (as long as I keep the router always powered)
> so all is well. I have a $100 PCM 1000VA ups that powers this as well
> as my master backend.
>
> John

You can use DHCP with static addresses, as well. That way you know it  
won't change even after a power cycle. You can even set up your router  
to reserve IP addresses based on MAC address of your ethernet card to  
make sure it doesn't give out the address to another machine if yours  
powers down for some reason and another request for IP is made in the  
meantime.

I believe somewhere in the myth code, the ip address is required as  
opposed to hostname. I'm not sure if that's still the case, but it  
definitely was not long ago and the advice has always been to just use  
the IP address to avoid potential problems.