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How to Identify a PS3 on Your Network

Unlike past Sony systems, the PlayStation 3 places a heavy focus on online interactions. Such interactions include buying downloadable games and movies from the PlayStation Store, playing multiplayer games online and chatting with friends. To perform any of these tasks, you must have your PlayStation 3 connected online to your network via your router. Depending on your router and ISP, the name given to the PlayStation 3 on your network is generic, such as "new-host." This makes identifying your PlayStation 3 difficult, especially if you have other gaming consoles connected to your network as well.

Instructions

- 1
  Turn on your PlayStation 3.
- 2
  Open an Internet browser on your PC.
- 3
  Enter your router IP address in the address bar at the top of your Internet browser. For example, the router IP address for most Linksys routers is 192.168.1.1. Press "Enter" to access your router.
- 4
  Enter the username and password for your router. Click "OK" or "Login" to proceed.
- 5
  Click the "Network" or "My Network" tab at the top of the screen. For example, on Verizon routers, you must click the "My Network" icon at the top of the screen. A list of all devices connected to your router is displayed. The PlayStation 3 is one of the devices that has "Online" as its status.
- 6
  Unplug the Ethernet cable leading into the back of your PlayStation 3. This cable is connected to the "LAN" port. If the PlayStation 3 is connected wirelessly, turn the PlayStation 3 off completely by flipping the power switch on the back of the system to the "Off" position.
- 7
  Refresh the list of devices on your network by clicking your Internet browser's "Refresh" button. One of the devices that previously had "Online" as the status now reads "Offline." This device corresponds to your PlayStation 3. Write down the name and IP address to identify your PlayStation 3 console on your network in the future.

PlayStation 3