Explore the guide library · Local network setup
Choose where the address is controlled and avoid assigning the same address to two devices.
For an ordinary home device that needs a predictable address, a DHCP reservation is often easier to maintain because the router holds the assignment. A manual static address lives on the client instead. Either can be appropriate, but mixing them without an address plan creates avoidable confusion.
Where the decision is stored
With a reservation, the client still requests its configuration from DHCP and the server selects the reserved address. GL.iNet documents this behavior in its LAN guide. With a manual client configuration, you must maintain the address and the associated network settings on that device.
That difference matters during a router replacement or subnet change. The reservation must be recreated on the serving router; the manually configured device may require direct correction before it can reach the new network.
Choose by the management task
- Printer, storage box or home automation controller: consider a reservation when the device supports DHCP and you manage the router.
- Equipment with a documented static requirement: follow the product or network administrator’s address plan.
- A temporary troubleshooting laptop: prefer normal automatic configuration unless a specific diagnostic step requires otherwise.
Avoid the duplicate-address trap
Keep a list of all fixed assignments and compare them with the DHCP pool. Use the router’s documented rules for reserved addresses. Do not simply pick a memorable number that appears unused for a moment; a sleeping device might already own it.
After saving a change, reconnect the target and confirm its actual address, gateway and ability to reach the required resource. Test from another ordinary client too.
Keep recovery straightforward
Record how to return the device to DHCP and how to reach its management interface if the addressing is wrong. Make one assignment change at a time.
A fixed address is an organizational tool, not an internet speed setting. Choose the method that someone else maintaining the household can understand and reproduce from the record.
Sources and editorial notes
Sources checked 8 October 2026. Independent guidance and original illustrations; product comparisons use published specifications rather than hands-on benchmarks. Check the exact model, revision and regional documentation before changing settings.