192.168.1.101, 192.168.1.102 and 192.168.1.103 are all part of an IP address range typically used on home computer networks. They are most commonly found in homes using Linksys broadband routers, but the same addresses can also be used with other home routers and also with other kinds of private networks.
How Home Routers Use the 192.168.1.x IP Address Range
Home routers by default define a range of IP addresses to be assigned to client devices via DHCP.
Consider the following example for a Wi-Fi home network:
- The home administrator uses a PC to initially set up the router and home network. The PC gets assigned IP address 192.168.1.100 by the router.
- A second PC is added to the network next. This PC receives 192.168.1.101.
- A game console then joins the network. It receives 192.168.1.102.
- A phone connects to the router via Wi-Fi, receiving 192.168.1.103.
Assigned addresses can be swapped over time. In the above example, if both the game console and phone are disconnected from the network for an extended period of time, their addresses return to the DHCP pool and could be re-assigned in the opposite order depending on which device re-connects first.
192.168.1.101 is a private (also called “non-routable”) IP address. It means computers on the Internet (or other remote networks) cannot communicate with that address directly without the assistance of intermediate routers. Messages from a home network router pertaining to 192.168.1.101 refer to one of the local computers and not an outside device.
Configuring the 192.168.1.x IP Address Range
Any home network or other private network can use this same 192.168.1.x IP address range even if the router uses different settings by default. To set up a router for this specific range:
- log into the router as administrator
- navigate to the router’s IP and DHCP settings; the location varies depending on type of router but is often located on a Setup menu.
- set the router’s local IP address to be 192.168.1.1 or other 192.168.1.x value; ‘x’ should be a sufficiently low number to allow address space for clients.
- set the DHCP starting IP address to be 192.168.1.x+1 – for example, if the router’s IP address is chosen to be 192.168.1.101, then the starting IP address for clients can be 192.168.1.102.
