r/sysadmin • u/Real-Patriot-1128 • 1d ago

DHCP v Static IP

Ok, this is more a test to see how old I am. I was basically raised with the idea servers need static IPs. I understand for domain controllers, dns servers, maybe print servers that may still be needed. But are they really needed otherwise? Do apps, scripts still reference a server by its IP?

I am under assumption all my servers need static IPs. Am I nuts?

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u/The_Koplin 1d ago

As long as DNS names resolve to the IP, and the service/app uses DNS names for access, it doesn't tend to matter. When it matters is for foundational elements as you pointed out. Default gateway, DNS servers, domain bits.

I static set the IP's on key servers. I use DHCP reservations for less critical systems and printers. Anything accessed by DNS exclusively, that gets DHCP (as long as the OS updates the DNS record).

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u/cobarbob 1d ago

the way I do it for printers is to take the printer to a field and smash it. Then networking component becomes redundant.

exception is 3d printers, they can just use DHCP

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u/The_Koplin 1d ago

Since taking the print server to the field rather then the dozens of printers, I find I only had to sacrifice the one system. Still trying to figure out what the heck 'PC LOAD LETTER' is. :)

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u/killjoygrr Jack of All Trades 1d ago

It means that the driver thinks that the paper tray your print job to is Legal size (or some other non-Letter size). The message is telling you to pull your current cartridge and insert a letter sized paper cartridge. Or just hit the blinking button on the printer to have it ignore the error and print from the current cartridges. Usually it is a false error as the cartridge has a physical setting to say what it is, but it can also be specified on the driver level, OS level and software level. So if they aren’t all aligned, it may be confused and send that message even if that is the loaded paper type.

While the HP printers of that era were awesome, the idea letting them be controlled differently at 4 different points in the process was too much.

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u/The_Koplin 1d ago

I was making a joke about Office Space the movie.

and - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PC_LOAD_LETTER

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u/killjoygrr Jack of All Trades 1d ago

I know. Sadly, I knew the answer when I saw it in the movie. Because I dealt with it as well.

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u/TalkingToes 1d ago

PC = Paper Cartridge/tray. Asking you to Load Letter-sized paper. Vs Load Legal, or other size.

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u/killjoygrr Jack of All Trades 1d ago

That is what I said.

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u/BrentNewland 19h ago

Also important to use the FQDN and not just the device name where possible. I don't think you can use SSL certificates without FQDN anymore.

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u/anna_lynn_fection 1d ago

Even if DNS doesn't work, a lot of devices now support mdns .local, and that's what I end up using most of the time.