IP Addresses Explained

On the internet, every server is given a unique number, or what is called an IP (Internet Protocol) address. This number can be regarded as a ‘telephone number’ which will allow other computers to find and gain access to files regardless of where they are. The IP address is equivalent to 4 bytes (32 bits), and each byte is known as an octet and can have a value of between 0 and 255, so IP addresses are written in the form of numbers, such as 123.456.78.9.

IP addresses of 32 bits allow in theory more than 4 billion unique addresses, but in actual fact, the real number is much less. Certain varieties are set aside for special purposes so the number of available IP addresses is restricted. Web sites can however get around this limitation by using shared hosting or virtual servers. Instead of using one server for one web site, shared hosting can enable several sites (sometimes hundreds) to be hosted on the same server. Each of these sites will have the same IP address, and they will be uniquely identified by their domain name (e.g. mydomain.com).

With the introduction of version 6, there are plans to expand the number of IP addresses (We currently use version 4) of the Internet Protocol. IPv6 has IP addresses which are 128 bits wide. This will give you an almost unlimited number of unique addresses, but will also take several years to carry out because of the very costly process of upgrading the Internet infrastructure.

Shared hosting explains the problem of limited IP addresses for web sites, but there is also a requirement for IP addresses for each personal computer which connects to the Internet in order to browse the web or to send emails. Rather than allocate each PC a unique IP address, Internet Providers is able to use a system of ‘dynamic addresses’. This implies that each time you connect to the Internet through a dial-up or DSL modem you will be assigned a different IP address.

We have previously discussed how to use a web hosting company in order to host a web site, but there are no reasons why you cannot host a site on your home computer. For most people, though, the biggest technical difficulty is that they connect to the Internet using an IP address which is dynamic. Dynamic addresses make it more difficult to host a web site from your home. As the IP address is constantly changing, nobody would be able to find your site unless you somehow inform them of your current IP address. There are many dynamic DNS services, nevertheless, which will allow you to assign a domain name to a site with a dynamic IP address. Every time you are given a new address your computer will automatically notify the service, which will in turn update its DNS (Domain Name Server).

Hosting your web site on your computer at home, however, might not be a good idea. The computer will need to operate server software and will need a high speed Internet connection. Your home Internet connection might probably be a lot slower than those used by hosting companies, so it is possible that your web pages load more slowly – especially if they have many graphics. If you have a smaller personal site with little visitors, however, it may be possible to host your own site. You can obtain dynamic DNS as either a free or a subscribed service.


Martin Redford is contributing editor at WebDesignArticles.net. This article may be reproduced provided that its complete content, links and author byline are kept intact and unchanged. No additional links permitted. Hyperlinks and/or URLs must remain both human clickable and search engine spiderable.

Web Hosting For Multiple Domains

Thanks to how low domain names cost as well as hosting fees, these days you can own several websites without breaking the bank. Domain names can be managed in several different so it is important to know what your options are and the advantages and disadvantages of every method.

When administering multiple domains, the basic choice is whether or not to do so with the same host. The majority of hosts offer packages which can be set up to allow several sites on one account, or to allow individual sites to be activated under split accounts.

You might have an existing website and are satisfied with the services your host provides you with. If you choose to start a new website by using the same host, you will feel assured that you are dealing with a company you can trust and are familiar with. You might also get a reduction for each additional account you open with the same host. Alternatively, making use of a new host for a second (or third or fourth) website can enable you to between the various qualities of hosting offered by different companies. Additionally, separate hosts will provide each of your web sites with a different IP address.

Having dissimilar IP addresses can be an important element if you plan to link the sites together to help with the search engine optimization. Incoming links are an important indicator of the significance of a website, so it is possible for a site with a lot of incoming links to get a higher position in search engines like Google. If all the links are coming from the exact same IP address, however, their value may be reduced. Hosting your many sites with different hosting companies will ensure that every site will have a different IP address. Individual IP addresses, nevertheless, are available as an additional tool from most web hosts. For a yearly fee each website is able to have its own unique IP address. This can help with search engine ranking and will also be required if you want to have a secure connection (https) on your site.

If you decide to get all your sites hosted with the same company, there are three basic methods you can employ. Each site can have its own account; you could sign up for a re-seller account; or you can get a dedicated server account.

As a re-seller you will be acting as an agent for the hosting company. You will be given a certain quantity of disk space and bandwidth and you will be free to make use of them as you like. There could be a limit to the amount of websites you can host with your re-seller account, but if there is some space left over after using this account for your own sites you could put some extra money in your pocket by selling your accounts to other people. The benefit of a re-seller account is that all the technical details will be taken care of by the hosting company. Some will even provide gateways for helping you to better bill your customers.

A dedicated server account will help you better control all the resources of an entire server. You will be free to setup as many websites as you would like to and allocate disk space and bandwidth as you see right. The disadvantage to this kind of account is that you will be responsible for the server’s upkeep. This might mean that you will need a significant level of technical experience. Therefore, if you don’t have that knowledge or if you don’t feel like learning about it, dedicated servers aren’t for you. Obviously, it will always be possible for you to go with a managed dedicated server. The disadvantage of this is the higher cost that will be involved.

Having all your sites hosted with only one host can offer lots of advantages but there is one major disadvantage which is that if your server goes down, all your sites will go down. If you depend on your sites for income this can be a potentially fatal situation for your business. Due to this fact, it is a good idea for you to have at least one of your sites with a different host. If your sites are important for your livelihood and you cannot afford any down time whatsoever, it would be better advice for you to host everything with two hosts minimum.


Nora Roberts is contributing editor at WebDesignArticles.net. This article may be reproduced provided that its complete content, links and author byline are kept intact and unchanged. No additional links permitted. Hyperlinks and/or URLs must remain both human clickable and search engine spiderable.