OS X El Capitan: Choose a manual IP address or use DHCP
An Internet Protocol (IP) address is a number that identifies each computer across the Internet or a network. When you connect to the Internet or an IP network, your computer needs an IP address.
Your IP address can be provided in two main ways:
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Automatically: Your computer is assigned an address using Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP).
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Manually: Your ISP or network administrator gives you an IP address, and you enter it in the Network pane of System Preferences.
Follow these steps to enter your IP address or have it assigned automatically.
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Choose Apple menu > System Preferences, then click Network.
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Select the network connection you want to use (such as Ethernet) in the list.
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Click Configure, then choose an option:
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If your address will be assigned automatically: Choose Using DHCP.
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If your ISP or administrator gave you an IP address: Choose Manually and enter the address in the IP Address field. Your ISP most likely gave you other addresses as well, such as the subnet mask, router, and Domain Name System (DNS) server address. Enter those addresses in the appropriate fields.
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