DNS = Domain Name Service

If it weren't for DNS, which provides text names as substitutes for IP addresses. Instead of simply remembering Google.com, you'd have to use a web address like http://216.239.53.100.

Typically, DNS names were simply associated with static IP addresses. For example, google.com would be associated with 216.239.53.100 and 216.239.51.100.

As you know, your laptop uses DHCP, and so its address changes just sitting at home, if the Cable/DSL provider chooses. What's more, if you move it from home to office it is guaranteed to change.

There are services out there that attempt to deal with this. As I posted above, visit dyndns.com or no-ip.org and take a look. What you do is download and install a little "agent" piece of software. This software connects into their servers on a regular basis and says, "Hi! This is SpineDoc's computer! I haven't the foggiest idea what my IP address to the world looks like, because I might be behind a router or NAT device. But when you get this message, it will have an IP Source address -- update your DNS servers and use that address!"

And it gets better -- for your simple HotSynch purposes, this can save you money. Normally, you'd have to pay domain registration company a yearly fee (anywhere between $9 and $40 per year) to register a public global DNS name, such as SpineDoc.com. Now, if you were hosting a public website, you'd want this. But for HotSync, you really don't care what the name looks like. So, at places like no-ip.org, you can have them issue you a name from their list of domains. So you can get spinedoc.no-ip.org for free!

Enjoy!