Posted by Frank (216.249.65.168) on January 23, 2002 at 22:04:21:
In Reply to: So two people posted by jonnt on January 23, 2002 at 21:30:23:
WebTV uses a proxy server (like our imposter friend??? was using) to limit the number of IP addresses that they have to use ... IP addresses cost money.
The way it works is that your PC sends a request (example: a message board post) to clusterheadaches.com. The proxy server assigns your PC an IP address and posts your message. The message is shown as bing from some IP address, and yes... several PC's can have the same IP address at once.
How about email? When somebody sends you an email, the mail server doesn't care about your IP address or MAC address either. It only uses your login name and password information to send unread email to the PC that requested it. That is why most ISPs allow you to access your email from anywhere.
The company that I work for (Northrop-Grumman) uses the same proxy server scheme. 80,000 employee have the same IP address.