Shared IP vs Dedicated IP vs Subdomain
AleForge servers offer a wide range of connection options to suit your needs. We’ll explain the differences here if you’re unsure which one is right for you.
| Connection Type | Movable to New Node |
|---|---|
| Share IP | No |
| Dedicated IP | No |
| Subdomain | Yes |
What is a Shared IP?
A shared IP is what comes configured by default on your server. e.g.
kheddak.aleforge.net:12345
This is an IP that is shared amongst everyone hosted on AleForge’s internal framework. Each time someone purchases a server an unused port is provided to that server to differentiate it from someone else’s server.
e.g. kheddak.aleforge.net:12346 could be for a Terraria server while
kheddak.aleforge.net:12345 could be for a Minecraft server.
In most cases, a shared IP works great for most users.
What is a Subdomain?
Subdomains are a feature of the AleForge Panel
that allow you to assign the IP address of your server to a DNS name. e.g.
minecraftsmp.joinaleforge.me . You can then use this subdomain to join your
server instead of the normal IP address.
One of the benefits of creating a subdomain is that you can keep the same IP if your server is ever migrated to a different node. If your server gets moved onto a different node, simply delete and recreate the subdomain to rebind it to your server’s new address. Then, you can use the same subdomain to join your server.
What is a Dedicated IP?
A dedicated IP is when we give your server its own specific IP address. This means that you have a full range of ports that you can assign to your server. This is useful in specific networking circumstances where you may want to use the default port for a game, or are installing a number of mods that integrate with different apps such as Discord, RCON clients, or a proximity chat mod that requires a specific port for your server.
Most of the time, ports for these integrations or mods are user-configurable and changeable. If you have a shared IP or a dedicated IP and want an additional port added to your server, [you can request one from support.](https://help.aleforge.net/article/568-how-can-i-get-an-additional- port-for-my-server)