Here is some general information about IP address.
1. IP address is a 32-bit value, which is broken to 4 8-bit groups. It is ususally expressed in a socalled dotted quad format, like 192.168.0.1
2. Each quad can be a number between 0 to 255.
3. There two basic catagories of IP address: Public IP address (or routable IP address) that can be used directly in Internet environment, and private IP address (non-routable IP address), which can be used in local network, but not routable directly in Internet.
You need pay for public IP addresses if you use them in the Internet environment. If you connect your computers without connect them to the Internet, it doesn't matter whether you use public or private IP addresses. But it's a good prectice to always use private IP address in your local network.
4. Another thing related to IP address is MASK, which determin what IP address can be reached by broadcasting, and which IP address need to route. For instance: a mask like 255.255.255.0 will reach any devices in the local network has the same number for most left three quads by broadcast. In other words, they are in the same subnet.
5. For local network,It is also important to give same workgroup name to all you computers you want them be able to reach each other. Give each computer a unique computer name.
6. Alternative way to asign IP address is to use DHCP.If you network has a router with DHCP server function, all your computer connected to it will be asigned an IP address automatically. If you network doesn't have a router (or one computer provider DHCP server function), compputers will give them self an IP address automatically. This is socalled Automatic Private IP Addressing (APIPA). They will be in the range of 169.254.0.0 through 196.254.255.255.
Hope this will help. Any question, please post.