Virtual IP Addresses Explained: What They Are and How to Set One Up

Being an internet user, you might have read or heard about the term IP Address (Internet Protocol Address). 

An IP address is a unique numerical identifier that is assigned to devices connected to a network. That address is of four types, i.e., Public, Private, Static, and Dynamic.

An IP address is often written as a set of four numbers with periods in between them, for example, “192.162.0.1”. These numbers are usually assigned to a device interface. But did you know that IP addresses are now independent of an individual network interface? 

Now, many use virtual IP addresses. They eliminate the need for individual interference while connecting with domains and servers. In this blog post, you will learn about virtual IP addresses and how to set up one. 

What Are Virtual IP Addresses?

Virtual IP addresses (VIPA) - These IP addresses are completely software-defined, independent of a network interface card or server. You can assign these addresses to multiple servers and applications to balance load, fault tolerance, and network simplification. VIPA often falls under static and dynamic IP categories. 

Below are the key characteristics of a virtual IP address:

• Not bound to a physical NIC.
• Multiple servers and applications can use it.
• Prevent individual servers from being overwhelmed.
• It helps distribute traffic across multiple servers (when used with load balancers).
• If a server faces failure, it routes traffic to another one to avoid disruptions.

How Does VIPA Work?

A virtual IP address is an alias mapped to multiple IP addresses at the back end. When a VIPA is assigned to a device or interface, it can be moved or shared across multiple devices on a network. 

Also Checkout: Subdomain Checker

When someone requests data from a virtual address, the system redirects the traffic to a real physical address (that relates to it at the backend). Multiple servers using the same IP handle requests to the virtual IP addresses. 

If a server goes down, VIPA automatically points the request to a backup server. This helps in ensuring no downtime for users. 

Virtual IP addresses use ARP (Address Resolution Protocol) announcements or changes in the routing table to provide a seamless switch between hosts and users. 

How Does a Virtual IP Address Differ from a Public IP Address? 

As mentioned, virtual IP addresses are not tied to a specific physical device. Instead, they are used by multiple devices or systems in a local network. On the other hand, public IP addresses are often assigned by Internet service providers. 

Public IP addresses are used to identify a network on the global internet and are used by devices accessing the web to send and receive information from external sources. 

Moreover, virtual IP addresses are mostly private and operate within an internal network. They are often not exposed to the internet for security and privacy purposes. This means you cannot look up a VIPA using external tools. 

Opposite to virtual ones, public IP addresses are visible on the internet. You can check them online using the What is My IP tool. Public IP addresses are globally unique and are often used in network diagnostics, security monitoring, and geolocation services.

Steps for Setting Up a Virtual IP Address

You can set up a virtual IP address for your device in various ways. You can ask your internet or hosting provider to assign you a virtual IP address. 

Besides this, you can also add one to your devices using a load balancer and virtual machine configuration (like in Windows or Linux). 

Moreover, you can use cloud platforms, i.e., Azure and AWS, to configure and assign a virtual IP address to your virtual machines. 

Besides the above, you can manually set up virtual IP addresses for your local home network. Below is how you can do that yourself. 

Also Checkout: Subnet Calculator for IPV4

1. On Windows

To set up a virtual IP address on Windows, you must have administrative access to the network settings of your chosen network adapter. Once you have the administrative access, you will add the VIPA as an additional IP alias. Below are the steps you need to follow to do that. 

1. Open the network and sharing center on Windows. (Control Panel > Network and Internet > Network and Sharing).
2. Right-click on your current network connection and select “Properties”. 
3. Find Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) and click on it. 
4. Click "Properties" and then the “Advanced” button. 
5. Inside “Advanced”, look for the IP address and click “Add”. 
6. Enter your desired VIPA inside the box and its corresponding subnet mask. 
7. Click "Add" and then "OK" to save the changes.

Note: Ensure the subnet mask is correct for the added virtual IP address. 

Besides the above, you can configure VIPA in Windows using the command tools such as “netsh”. It is beneficial for multiple aliases.  

2. On MAC

To set up a virtual IP address on your MAC device, you must assign a new IP address to a virtual interface. Below are the steps you need to take to do that. 

1. Go to Apple Menu > System Settings > Network. 
2. Choose the connection that you want to modify and click “Advanced”. 
3. Under the “Advanced Tab,” look for “TCP/IP” and click on it. 
4. Next, choose "Manually" under "Configure IPv4” and enter the new address in the “IPv4” address field. 
5. Enter the relevant subnet mask information and click “Okay” to save changes. 

Conclusion

Virtual IP addresses (VIPA) are independent of individual network interference and are defined using software. You can assign them to multiple servers at a time. To get a virtual IP address, you can ask your internet service or hosting provider, or get one from cloud platforms like AWS and Microsoft Azure. You can also assign the one to your devices, e.g., Windows or MAC on your local network. To assign your own, follow the steps shared in this post above. 

FAQs

1. What is the difference between a virtual IP and a static IP?

A static IP is a fixed physical address assigned to a specific device. In contrast, a virtual IP is not tied to any device and can float between multiple devices.

2. Can I set up a virtual IP at home?

You can set up a virtual IP on a local network using software tools, especially if you're running multiple servers or virtual machines at home.

3. Is a virtual IP the same as a private IP?

No. A private IP refers to IP addresses within a local network that aren't accessible from the internet. In contrast, a virtual IP is a logical IP used for high availability or load balancing. It is primarily private, but can be public sometimes.