The Syntax and Options for Using the Ipconfig Diagnostic Utility for Network Connections (314850)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
  • Microsoft Windows XP Professional
This article was previously published under Q314850
For a Microsoft Windows 2000 version of this article, see 117662.

SUMMARY

This article tells how to run the Ipconfig utility and lists the options that you can use.

Ipconfig.exe is included with Windows XP. This utility provides you with diagnostic information related to TCP/IP network configuration. Ipconfig also accepts various Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) commands, allowing a system to update or release its TCP/IP network configuration.

MORE INFORMATION

To run the Ipconfig.exe utility, at a command prompt, type ipconfig, and then add any appropriate options.

SYNTAX

ipconfig [/? | /all | /renew adapter | /release adapter | /flushdns | /displaydns | /registerdns | /showclassid adapter | /setclassid adapter classid

The adapter connection name can use wildcard characters (* and ?).

OPTIONS 
   /?             Displays this help message

   /all           Displays full configuration information

   /release       Releases the IP address for the specified adapter

   /renew         Renews the IP address for the specified adapter

   /flushdns      Purges the DNS Resolver cache

   /registerdns   Refreshes all DHCP leases and reregisters DNS names

   /displaydns    Displays the contents of the DNS Resolver Cache

   /showclassid   Displays all the DHCP ClassIds allowed for the specified adapter

   /setclassid    Modifies the DHCP ClassId
The default (with no parameters specified) is to display only the IP address, subnet mask, and default gateway for each adapter that is bound to TCP/IP.

For /all, Ipconfig displays all of the current TCP/IP configuration values, including the IP address, subnet mask, default gateway, and Windows Internet Naming Service (WINS) and DNS configuration.

For /release and /renew, if no adapter name is specified, the IP address leases for all adapters that are bound to TCP/IP are released or renewed.

For /setclassid, if no ClassId is specified, the ClassId is removed.

EXAMPLES 
   ipconfig                   Show information

   ipconfig /all              Show detailed information

   ipconfig /renew            Renew all adapters

   ipconfig /renew EL*        Renew any connection whose name starts EL 

   ipconfig /release *Con*    Release all matching connections, for example, "Local Area Connection 1" or "Local Area Connection2"
Note that the /Release and /Renew options can be used only if the system is configured with DHCP.
Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:8/6/2002
Keywords:kbinfo kbnetwork KB314850
©2002 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.