setting up a static IP address for my server

[sniper8752]

I am trying to setup a static IP address for my Ubuntu server. I go to the admin page for my router, set the MAC address, and the IP address that I would like. I then set it to static. I then test it by turning off the server, and plugging in another device. The other device comes online, takes the server's IP address, and changes the static MAC address to the new device that just came online. Why would the IP address not be reserved if it was set to static?

[steeldriver]

it's hard to tell without knowing the particular router, but possibly by setting it to 'static' on the router, it thinks you intend to set up a true static IP on the client? Normally when you reserve an IP on the router side that is not really classed as 'static', it is done via DHCP (i.e. the client still gets its IP via DHCP, but the router's DHCP server always hands out the same IP based on MAC)

[TheFu]

Setting a static IP through the router is called "DHCP Reservation" - it is tied to the MAC address used by the specific network card inside the server.

The server will need to be rebooted (or at least the network static will need to be restarted) for the new IP to take effect.

It is best to put the static IP outside the normal DHCP range of IPs. Could this be the issue?

It is unclear to me what you mean by "plugging in another device."

Ok, completely switching gears now ... the best way to setup a static IP for a server is NOT in the DHCP reservations on a router, rather, tell the server which IP address it should use and have it demand that address. How to do this depends on whether you have any GUI installed or not. If you only have Ubuntu Server installed - no GUI, no Network Manager, then edit the /etc/network/interfaces file, restart the networking service and you are done. I haven't a clue how to do it with a GUI involved. Sorry. man interfaces will explain the options, but normally, something like this example will be used.

auto eth0
iface eth0 inet static
  address 192.168.1.xx
  gateway 192.168.1.x
  netmask 255.255.255.0
  dns-nameservers 192.168.1.x
  dns-search example.com example.lan

Your specific settings will be different, probably. All the 'x' characters need to be changed to your network - other parts will likely need to be changed as well. I think these are the bare minimal settings needed.

DO NOT use a static IP in the range given out by your router for DHCP addresses.

[sniper8752]

I saved a few addresses, and saved 192.168.1.231 as my server address. I setup my interfaces file like so:

auto wlan0iface wlan0 inet static
  address 192.168.1.231
  gateway 192.168.1.1
  netmask 255.255.255.0
  dns-nameservers 192.168.1.1  dns-search 192.168.1.1

When I ping it, it says that the destination host is unreachable. The server does say it has that address.
Edit: I turned off the server, and it says that 192.168.1.231 is still active on the router admin page. Also, I could not ping 192.168.1.1 from the server.

[TheFu]

If you cannot ping the router, that is bad. Very bad. Time to get a working network again and post some specific cmd results.

$ route
$ ifconfig

Those should be enough. Make certain that everything is working on your network BEFORE running those cmds.
Also, please confirm that you are running Ubuntu Server - NO GUI. If you have a GUI, the steps are different.

Bedtime here. Bye.

[chili555]

Just to humor an old Chili, please set up interfaces like this:

auto lo
iface lo inet loopback

auto wlan0
iface wlan0 inet static
  address 192.168.1.231
  netmask 255.255.255.0
  gateway 192.168.1.1
  dns-nameservers 192.168.1.1

Now get the system to re-read and use the changes:

sudo ifdown wlan0 && sudo ifup -v wlan0

Any errors or warnings? How about?

ping -c3 192.168.1.1

[sniper8752]

I set it up like that, and got no error messages. still says that it can't reach the destination.

[Iowan]

Back to the previoius request, then...
results of:
route -n
ifconfig

[sniper8752]

route:
destination/gateway/genmask
0.0.0.0 192.168.1.1 0.0.0.0
192.168.1.0 0.0.0.0 255.255.255.0

ifconfig
inet addr: 192.168.1.231
bcast: 192.168.1.255
mask: 255.255.255.0

[chili555]

I am off for the evening, but one of the guys will help you set it to DHCP, and see what address, gateway, route, etc. you get.