Are you among those who get confused between Web hosting and Domain name? The two things are co-related but different.
Most website users often get confused between the choice of Dedicated IP address and Shared IP address. In 99% of scenarios, you won’t need a Dedicated IP address, so you can go ahead with your choice of Shared IP.
Further reading: Shared Hosting Vs VPS hosting
What’s the difference between a Shared IP and Dedicated IP?
A Shared IP hosts multiple domains, whereas Dedicated IP is used by a single domain. A Dedicated IP costs a bit more than Shared IP, but it offers many benefits compared to a Shared IP. Both IPs are secured and offer the required features. So, depending on your website needs, you can choose either a Dedicated IP or a Shared IP.
What is an IP Address?
The IP address is an ‘internet protocol’ address that is unique to every domain on the web. The addresses are mapped to the domain name using the DNS. You can think of DNS as a phonebook to WWW.
When you type Google in the address bar, the DNS query is performed for name servers as requested by the ISP. The mapping feature is not visible, but it allows you to access the domain name. Without the use of DNS, you would have to type numbers to get into Google.
There are two types of IP addresses that websites use – IPV4 and IPV6. As the internet is growing at a rapid speed, it needed a large address space. IPV6 is adept to accommodate the increasing demand of domains and IP addresses.
To determine whether you need a Shared IP or Dedicated IP, everything applies to IPV4 and IPV6. Your IP address also depends on your hosting provider’s server setup and tech stack.
1. What is a Dedicated IP address?
A Dedicated IP address is a string of numbers assigned to your website. It is not shared or used by any other domain on the internet. If a user types your dedicated IP address in the browser search bar, the user will be redirected to your website. A dedicated IP address is like your landline, a dedicated number that is assigned to your name. You can purchase it through a hosting service provider for a small fee.
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1.1 Benefits of Dedicated IP Address
- It lets you access your website directly via FTP. You can remotely access your server at any time with a Dedicated IP address, and you don’t have to change the DNS settings for your domain. You can test your site before launching with a Dedicated IP address.
- If your website has a unique set-up or your site requires special applications and scripts to run, you might need a Dedicated IP. Common applications run fine with Shared IP addresses, but for unique applications, choose Dedicated IP.
- Dedicated IP can isolate your website and emails from other websites. It will protect both your website reputation and email. For professional emails, it is best to use a third-party email provider.
- A Dedicated IP address provides a higher level of server control. Since you have direct access, you can customize it. Of course, it also depends on your technical skills.
- With a Dedicated IP address, you can run your IP-based server environment. But, you will need your hosts’ permission for this.
Most hosting providers use Dedicated IPs for SSL certificates. It also depends on your hosting configurations. Some server setups require it, and other hosting providers use the SNI to install the SSL certificates on the website. A Dedicated IP address can provide a boost in the performance of the website.
2. What is a Shared IP Address?
A Shared IP is mapped between multiple domains, which means you will have to share your IP address. It is a common string assigned to multiple websites at a single time.
Small businesses use Shared IP addresses more than big companies to manage the budget allocation. Most configurations don’t need a Dedicated IP address, and a Shared IP address is ideal for those configurations. Most new users or people who create a new website opt for a Shared IP address.
A Shared IP address is different from Shared hosting. If your website uses Shared IP, it doesn’t imply shared hosting. In Shared hosting, you are sharing the networking resources and hardware with other users including a Shared IP address.
2.2 Benefits of the Shared IP Address
- Many people can use it at a time, which is the reason it is more popular than Dedicated IP. Different devices and computers can connect using the IP.
- A Shared IP address gives you complete privacy while surfing the internet. It does not give the exact location to email recipients. It does not allow you to get blacklisted because of previous complain, which is an advantage. It is safe to use for all your online activities.
- A Shared IP address provides complete security and many features. It is a perfect IP address if you want to grow your website in the webspace.
Dedicated IP vs Shared IP: Difference Between the Two
- Network and Site Speed
- Emails
- SSL and Security
- SEO
Using a Dedicated IP address enables you to visit your site via a single IP address. It provides easy access to the server using FTP and helps prevent CPU throttling. Added port access is another advantage of the Dedicated IP address, which is missing in Shared IP.
The Shared IP address does not mean that your website performance will be slow. Also, sharing the IP address does not impact the speed of your website.
Dedicated IP might benefit emails, but only for a large volume base. With a low volume of emails, there is no need to go with a Dedicated IP address. It is more important when it comes to the delivery rates.
An IP reputation not only affects the delivery rate but also impacts the ability to reach the customer’s inbox. A third-party email service provider can help you with this, and it is best for more than 10,000 emails per month.
In the past, for an SSL certificate, you had to purchase a Dedicated IP, but things have changed now. SNI (Server Name Identification) allows multiple SSL certificates on a single IP address today.
It sends the visitor the certificate with the requested server. Some browsers don’t run on SNI, so you will have to check for those. Shared IP address work fine for SSL certificates. Security is not a concern because of isolated container technology.
Just as emails, the IPs can get blacklisted. Google reviews the sites that are on Shared hosting and share the same IP address. Although Google does not take blacklisted sites lightly, if your IP gets blacklisted, there are some steps to undo it.
Another concern that people face in SEO is the shifting of IP addresses, which may impact the rankings. Most big companies keep changing IP addresses, but they do it in such a way that it doesn’t impact their site’s rankings.
Final Recap
The speed of your website won’t be harmed by the Shared IP address. A Dedicated IP address can benefit you if you are sending large volumes of emails. SSL certificates are allowed on Shared IP addresses.
With a high-quality hosting provider, your SEO won’t be affected. You cannot migrate IP addresses between hosting providers. So, depending on your requirement, choose an IP address that you think is right for your website.
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