Router Interface: What is my IP Address? Shows Different IP Addresses
In this article, we will be discussing router interfaces and the phenomenon where whatismyipaddress.com shows different IP addresses. Specifically, we will cover the following key concepts:
- What is a router interface?
- Understanding IP addresses and DNS connections.
- Why does whatismyipaddress.com show different IP addresses?
What is a router interface?
In simple terms, a router interface is the point of connection between a router and a network. It is where data packets are received, processed, and forwarded to their intended destinations. Each interface has its own unique IP address, which is used to identify it on the network.
+-------------+ +---------------+ +-------------+
| Device A |-----------| Router Interface|----------| Device B |
+-------------+ +---------------+ +-------------+
Understanding IP addresses and DNS connections
IP addresses are unique numerical labels assigned to every device connected to a network. They are used to identify devices and enable communication between them. A DNS (Domain Name System) connection, on the other hand, is a system that translates human-readable domain names (e.g. google.com) into IP addresses (e.g. 172.217.3.142).
When you visit a website, your computer sends a request to a DNS server, asking for the IP address associated with the domain name. The DNS server responds with the IP address, and your computer uses it to establish a connection with the server hosting the website.
+-------------+ +---------------+ +-----------------+
| Device |-----------| DNS Server |----------| Website Server |
+-------------+ +---------------+ +-----------------+
Why does whatismyipaddress.com show different IP addresses?
When you visit whatismyipaddress.com, it displays the public IP address of your router interface. However, if you have multiple devices connected to your network, each with its own private IP address, then visiting whatismyipaddress.com from each device will show a different public IP address.
This happens because each device has its own network connection, and therefore its own router interface with a unique public IP address. When a device on your network visits whatismyipaddress.com, the request goes through your router, which forwards it to the website using its own public IP address.
So, if you visit whatismyipaddress.com from your computer and see IP address 100.73.177.xxx, and then visit it from your phone and see IP address 180.150.80.xx, it's because they are using different router interfaces with different public IP addresses.
- A router interface is the point of connection between a router and a network.
- Each interface has its own unique IP address, which is used to identify it on the network.