DNS vs. IP

Brooke's picture

She has: 681 posts

Joined: Feb 1999

Hello everyone.

Okay - I know what they mean and I know that an IP address sits behind the dns. But there is a host that will assign just dns for people. You will have your own domain name but not an IP address. They can set one up for you if you want - but it just doesn't come with one.

Can you explain all of this and if having jusst a dns is bad?

Thanks!

Brooke

Suzanne's picture

She has: 5,507 posts

Joined: Feb 2000

You can have one IP address, or many people can share an IP. As IP addresses are finite, really more and more people will be in hosting situations where they are virtually hosted with many people using on IP address.

Whether it's good or bad depends mostly on your traffic requirements. I believe, but many someone more versed in this can answer.

He has: 1,016 posts

Joined: May 2002

Virtual accounts (accounts that share one IP) are as good as IP based accounts for about 99% of people/sites. An IP address is basically required for sites that want to run their own SSL certificate or want anonymous FTP. The difference is that the webserver recognized virtual accounts by their domain name instead of IP address.

As a webhost, we do not give IP addresses to any customers just because they want one, they'll have to justify their needs. Already there are too many sites using dedicated IPs when they would work just as good without one. It's a waste of IP addresses IMHO.

Mark Hensler's picture

He has: 4,048 posts

Joined: Aug 2000

I think that for most typical hosting situations, virtual hosting (shared IP) will do. Most people won't be needing to perform anything with the IP that will require sole use of the IP.

Mark Hensler
If there is no answer on Google, then there is no question.

mairving's picture

They have: 2,256 posts

Joined: Feb 2001

Having an IP is arguably better. The problem is that you can't just go out and pick one. They are assigned to you. They used to be handed out like candy at Halloween but today they are becoming increasingly harder to get. Because of this, most hosts now don't normally assign IP addresses to accounts. Here is some info on IP addresses.

Mark Irving
I have a mind like a steel trap; it is rusty and illegal in 47 states

Brooke's picture

She has: 681 posts

Joined: Feb 1999

I heard that you want to have your own IP because of search engine stuff. You won't rank as well without your own IP. Is that true?

mairving's picture

They have: 2,256 posts

Joined: Feb 2001

Quote: Originally posted by Brooke
I heard that you want to have your own IP because of search engine stuff. You won't rank as well without your own IP. Is that true?

No, there is no truth to it. Some people think that because they may share an IP with someone who happens to be sending out spam that search engines will blacklist them. It's not true either.

Mark Irving
I have a mind like a steel trap; it is rusty and illegal in 47 states

They have: 37 posts

Joined: Nov 2002

I think static IP is a must if you're planning to outsource your DNS instead of using the one from your hosting provider.

There are many good reasons to do so, You can control subdomains and subdomain pointers. If you decided to move webhost later, you don't have to wait for 3+ days.

Check out versign's DNS hosting.

Brian Farkas's picture

They have: 1,015 posts

Joined: Apr 1999

Very true - using a 3rd party DNS system is another use of dedicated IP addresses... although, as mentioned earlier, the vast majority of web sites on the Internet do not require one, unless they are using a personal secure certificate or anonymous FTP.

He has: 1,016 posts

Joined: May 2002

FunkyJ, there is a huge difference between STATIC IP and DEDICATED IP. Don't get them confused.

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