For my current project I hope to have two apps communicating via TCP/IP (windows sockets). Now both of the apps will be on PCs connected to my university network. I have seen people walk into the uni computer room with laptops and plug the laptop straight into one of the network ports and start surfing the web. I hope to be able to do this with the computers upon which my apps are situated. I have a couple of questions though regarding computers that are plugged into the network port in this way:
1. Every time someone comes along with their computer and plugs it into the network, does it maintain the same IP address?
2. Does the owner of the computer have to log into a user account on the network or does it somehow by-pass this?
Thanks
EDIT: By the way, I don't mean to be rude but can you only answer these questions if you really know what you are talking about and preferably have experience with NT networks. This is a crucial part of my MEng degree project so I can't be doing with rubbish coming from people who think they know the answers but are really just speculating. Cheers.