As a website owner or manager of a small-to-medium-sized organization, it’s good to understand some technical aspects of how websites work. One of the fundamental concepts you’ll encounter is the IP address. Even if you have a low-to-medium technical background, knowing the basics about IP addresses and how they relate to your website is important for managing your online presence. In this article, we’ll explain what IP addresses are, their relationship to DNS and nameservers, and why they sometimes need to change.
What is an IP Address?
An IP (Internet Protocol) address is a unique set of numbers (such as 192.168.1.1) assigned to each device connected to the internet. For websites, an IP address is like a home address—it tells web browsers where to find the website’s server so the content can be displayed.
How Do IP Addresses Relate to DNS and Nameservers?
The DNS (Domain Name System) is often called the phonebook of the internet. When you type a website’s domain name (like example.com) into your browser, the DNS converts this human-readable address into the actual IP address of the server where the website is hosted. The nameservers are part of this process, directing traffic to the correct IP address for your website.
For example:
- When you enter
https://www.example.comorhttps://example.com, the DNS system translates that to the correct IP address and directs you to the right server.
What are IP Addresses Used for Most Commonly?
For websites, an IP address is used to:
- Identify the website’s server – This allows visitors to load your website’s content.
- Enable communication – Your web server uses its IP address to communicate with other devices on the internet.
- Allow services like email – In some cases, an IP address can also be tied to your email services, although those often use different servers.
Why Might a Website’s IP Address Need to Change?
There are several common reasons why a website’s IP address might need to change:
- Server migration: If you change hosting providers or upgrade to a new server, your website may be assigned a new IP address.
- CDN (Content Delivery Network): Services like Cloudflare, which optimize and secure websites, might mask your real IP address with their own. If you stop using such services, your original IP will be used again.
- Security reasons: If your current IP is under a cyberattack (e.g., a DDoS attack), you may change the IP address to avoid disruption.
- Technical improvements: Sometimes hosting providers or website owners change IP addresses to enable better load balancing, optimize server performance, or enable IPv6 (a new version of IP addressing).
How and Where to Change a Website’s IP Address
If you find that your website’s IP address needs to change, the process typically involves updating the DNS records for your domain.
Here’s how you can do it:
- Login to your DNS management tool: This is usually provided by your domain registrar (e.g., GoDaddy, Namecheap) or your web hosting provider.
- Update the A Records: The A record in the DNS settings points your domain (e.g.,
example.com) and its subdomains (e.g.,www.example.com) to an IP address. When changing your IP, you’ll need to update the A records for both the “www” version and the non-www version of your site. For example:example.com-> New IPwww.example.com-> New IP
- Wait for DNS Propagation: After you’ve changed the IP address in the DNS settings, it can take minutes to hours for the new IP to propagate across the internet. This delay happens because the DNS changes must update across various global servers.
How to Check if the IP Address Has Changed Globally
You can check if the new IP address has been propagated using a tool like What’s My DNS. This tool checks DNS records from multiple locations around the world, showing if your new IP has propagated globally.
To use it:
- Visit What’s My DNS.
- Enter your domain name (e.g.,
example.com). - Select the A record type.
- Click Search and see if the new IP address is reflected worldwide.
This is ours: https://www.whatsmydns.net/#A/itomic.com.au
Clearing Browser Cache After an IP Change
Sometimes, after changing an IP address, visitors might still see the old website or receive errors. This happens because their browser has cached the old IP address. In such cases, clearing the browser cache can resolve the issue.
For a guide on clearing browser cache, you can visit this helpful article: How to Clear Browser Cache.
The Role of Cloudflare and Similar Services
In some cases, services like Cloudflare can be used to protect websites and improve performance. When using Cloudflare, the real IP address of your website may be hidden, as Cloudflare provides its own set of IP addresses. This means a DNS propagation checker like What’s My DNS will show Cloudflare’s IP addresses, not the true server IP.
Why does this happen?
- Cloudflare acts as a middleman: It sits between the visitor and your web server, providing security, load balancing, and faster content delivery. This is known as a proxy.
- Masking the true IP: Cloudflare’s IP addresses are displayed instead of your server’s actual IP. This helps protect your website from threats like DDoS attacks.
If you are using a service like Cloudflare and need to change your IP, you’ll need to update the IP settings through Cloudflare’s interface, not directly in your DNS settings.
Conclusion
Understanding IP addresses and their relationship to your website is important for maintaining your online presence. Whether it’s a server migration, security reasons, or performance upgrades, IP addresses sometimes need to change. By managing your DNS settings properly and checking for DNS propagation, you can ensure your website runs smoothly with minimal downtime. Keep this knowledge handy to avoid disruption and keep your website accessible to your customers and visitors!