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 | Keeps Same Address If Moved to New Node |
|---|---|
| Shared IP | No |
| Dedicated IP | No |
| Subdomain | Yes |
What Is a Shared IP?
Section titled “What Is a Shared IP?”A shared IP is what comes configured by default on your server, for example kheddak.aleforge.net:12345.
This is an IP address shared amongst everyone hosted on AleForge’s internal framework. Each time someone purchases a server, an unused port is assigned to that server to differentiate it from everyone else’s.
For example, kheddak.aleforge.net:12346 could be a Terraria server, while kheddak.aleforge.net:12345 could be a Minecraft server on the very same shared IP.
A shared IP works great for most users, and is the right choice unless you have a specific reason to need one of the other two options below.
What Is a Subdomain?
Section titled “What Is a Subdomain?”Subdomains are a feature of the AleForge Panel that let you assign your server’s IP address to a DNS name, for example minecraftsmp.join.aleforge.me. You can then use this subdomain to join your server instead of its normal IP address.
One of the main benefits of a subdomain is that you can keep using the same address, even if your server is ever migrated to a different node. If your server does get moved, simply delete and recreate the subdomain to rebind it to your server’s new address. Once that’s done, you and your players can keep using the exact same subdomain to join, with nothing else to update.
What Is a Dedicated IP?
Section titled “What Is a Dedicated IP?”A dedicated IP means we give your server its own specific IP address, rather than sharing one with other servers. This gives you a full range of ports you can assign to your server.
This is useful in specific networking situations, such as:
- Wanting to use a game’s default port instead of a custom one
- Running mods or plugins that integrate with external apps, such as Discord bots, RCON clients, or proximity chat mods, which often need a specific, dedicated port to function correctly
If none of these apply to you, a shared IP is usually all you need.