If a device is on your IP address and you don’t see it, can it cause problems? Unlike the old adage about the tree in the forest, we know the answer to this riddle — unseen devices can cause major problems for your home network.
With more and more pieces of technology becoming “smart”, networks must link to more IP addresses than ever before, which make finding, identifying, and monitoring these devices extremely important. Luckily, our world of innovators has expanded, and crowd sourcing IP detection has eased the burden on consumers and network administrators alike.
But what, exactly, can we do with this information? In the coming year, expect IP discovery and monitoring to take a larger role in troubleshooting, installation, and keeping you safe.
Whether you find yourself with high-speed Internet that’s lost its oomph or a satellite system on the fritz, your IP address can help experts in the field diagnose the problem — and often fix it — without stepping foot in your home. The ease of troubleshooting networking and “tech” problems remotely saves you time and the companies you’re dealing with money.
IP detection is also an advantage for home theater system and smart home installers. For instance, using IP discovery tools, a smart home installer can search for the IP addresses of every piece of Wi-Fi enabled equipment on a network and merge them into one location — if problems arise, or if a new piece of equipment conflicts with an existing piece, the installer can easily track the problem.
IP discovery can give you piece of mind in a couple different ways. Adding new security equipment to your smart home is as easy as finding the IP address and connecting to your network, and instead of re-wiring your entire house to add a video monitor to your front door, you can buy an easy-to-install camera that connects using an IP address. Your security system company can also take advantage of IP discovery and data by accessing information and quickly taking action should an emergency arise.
IP data collection can be used to simplify your life, but the first step is knowing what devices are waiting.