Same IP Address but no connection?

[jackregan]

Here is a puzzling question:

My IP traces on my forum reveal that two certain users have the same IP. Or, rather they have used the same IP on different occasions.

Now, I know that this can mean that a user has two accounts, but in this case I know them both and they are at other ends of the country.

I ran the IP through domaintools, and it turns out that both users are members of an ISP which is very small and has a very very very narrow range of IP addresses. Only 255 IP addresses.

So is it possible that 2 users with no connection to one another, were simply randomly assigned the same IP by their ISP at different times?

[Panzer-]

It is possible. I think ISPs tend to hand out the same IP to people in the same area. For example i have a dynamic IP. Sometimes i get warned when i go onto wikipedia (I haven't touched it, other people using that IP did).

It is strange though.. especially if they are as far apart as you say they are.

[kizer]

I see it all the time. I have several members in the Portland Oregon area that come back with the same IP. I've personally met them all and geograhically they are several miles apart, however they all 3 just happen to use the same ISP.