User asks for answer that won't solve their problem

Question

In this question, the asker is asking how to assign 2 IP addresses to their computer using DHCP. However, they clarified their question, and the reason they want to do this is to bypass an IP-based download limit; unfortunately, the answer to their question won't solve their actual problem (if they did get 2 local IP addresses, it wouldn't bypass the download limit, because of NAT). I was going to explain it in a comment, but the comment would have been right up against the length limit, so I figured that it may not belong there. What should I do?

• Say it in a comment
• Say it in an answer
• Something else

Answer 1

This happens now and then, and it's known as the XY Problem.

This user is asking for a solution which will not solve his initial problem. Instead, he could have asked "How do I by-pass the download limit?".

As long as you point out that the solution the OP is looking for will not solve OP's real problem, and offer an alternative solution instead, then it should be fine.

• Alternative instead of real answer
• If I solve someones problem instead of answering their question, should I post a comment instead?

Is there a risk for your answer being flagged as "not an answer"? According this answer, (from the discussion "When should the “Not an Answer” flag be used?", no:

A bad or a wrong answer is still technically an answer. Moderators aren't here to judge the correctness of answers. That's what the voting system is for, so the right way to handle those is to downvote, edit, or leave a comment.

Answer 2

I would state it in an answer for a few reasons:

• technically, it is an answer. Sometimes the answer to the problem is that there is no answer.
• Space limit on comments.
• It will give people the opportunity to up-vote/down-vote your "answer" to strongmen the probability of your answer being correct.

Answer 3

What should I do?

• Say it in a comment
• Say it in an answer
• Something else

It's perfectly appropriate, when someone asks a poorly-framed question, to give them an answer which correctly addresses their underlying need, rather than just give them the answer they want to hear.

I usually try to give both, however -- people are more likely to take your explanation of why the answer they asked for isn't going to fix the problem if you can first demonstrate sufficient understanding of the situation to answer the question they thought they should be asking.

Answer 4

If other users can benefit from the asked question, you should not change it. Answer in the answer. Address pragmatics, the reasons why people ask questions, in the comments.

Regarding this answer, I am sure you can have two IP addresses without NAT. Internet routes packets to your gatewat computer, which may have two IP interfaces. I see no problem to use to IP interfaces to increase bandwidth. It is natural solution.