What is a apipa address?

An APIPA stands for, Automatic Private IP Address. Basically the majority of people use DHCP to obtain there IP address and configurations. For this to work, a DHCP server must be running. DHCP servers are found in home routers, gateways, modems, or corporate servers. However, If there is no DHCP server that is reachable, you will get an APIPA. APIPA is a range of IP address just for Microsoft operating systems. An APIPA ranges from 169.254.0.1 through 169.254.255.254. When it is activated, it constantly looks for a DHCP server to get a configuration from. When it finds a proper configuration, APIPA is disabled.