ThisIsMyIP – free as in freedom
What is ThisIsMyIP?
ThisIsMyIP is a Windows Service, which detects and publishes current computer’s public IP address in networks with variable public IP address. If you are cable modem user, you will be able to know your computer's IP all the time.
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Troubleshooting |
License
ThisIsMyIP is free (as in freedom) software according to GNU General Public License.
Credits
The application has been designed and developed by void_main at sourceforge.net
Third Party Servers usage inspired by IPdetect by koshmar (http://sourceforge.net/projects/ipdetect)
Description
Program detects and publishes current public IP address in networks with variable public IP address.
It has been primarily used to know IP address of home computer for accessing FTP server running on home computer connected to cable modem. Due to DHCP used by ISP, public address of the server changes.
The program runs as Windows Service using external web server(s) to retrieve computer's public IP address.
It can use well known public http servers reporting public IP address of caller as well as own server where runs CGI (PERL) script. The script identifies client IP in similar way as public http servers and generates HTML page, which in turn is parsed by ThisIsMyIP. Successfully detected address is then published on some website or in local folder in HTML format.
Environment
Windows 2000, Windows XP
Download
The program installation package can be downloaded from SourceForge:
http://sourceforge.net/projects/thisismyip
Installation/un-installation
ThisIsMyIP should be installed using setup.exe. Use unistal.exe to uninstall the program.
Configuration
To configure program use installed in Windows Programs menu Config or run service executable with /config switch, which will show configuration form.
Retrieval
ThisIsMyIP can retrieve its public IP from third party servers or own server.
Frequency of attempts to determine and publish IP address is defined by Refresh Time in minutes.
Use Third Party
Servers
To enable this feature (default) check Use Third Party Servers.
By default ThisIsMyIP is attempting to retrieve computer's IP address using list of predefined web pages in type of http://www.ip-number.com. You can add, remove servers and change order in which they are being accessed (Up and Dn buttons).
Use My Own Server
To enable this feature (by default disabled) check Use My Own Server.
Utilizing own server requires ftp access to web servers script directory (typically /cgi-bin) and uploading .cgi (e.g. PERL) script, which detects and shows requestor’s IP address. The IP address must be in textual form of HTML page.
The application is able to upload/refresh the script.
Publishing
ThisIsMyIP can publish retrieved IP address information to some web server or to local directory (to be used by other applications for example).
Publish on the web
To publish your IP on the web you need some kind of web hosting available. There are a number of free web hosting services, which can be used for this purpose. Currently ThisIsMyIP can upload the IP information HTML file using FPT service only.
Note: the safest way is to use http address which is not linked from any other page for example http://thisismyip.someisp.com/myipis.html.
Publish to directory
The service can create the output HTML file locally in a directory. This file can be used by your other applications to know your computer’s public IP.
See below for example of locally published IP information.
Parameter storage
All the configuration parameters are stored in Windows Registry at HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\FSFThisIsMyIP\Parameters
Updates
The latest versions are available for download from sourceforge.net: http://sourceforge.net/projects/thisismyip/
Installer setup.exe is able to detect previous installation of the application and preserve configuration.
If you want to install newer version of the program DO NOT uninstall it! Run the installer and it will overwrite previous version.
Questions and suggestions
I may be able to answer your questions about the program however do not count on support too much. This program is intended for advanced users as it is described in sourceforge.net:. Regardless you like the program or not, please send me an email to void_main at user.sourceforge.net