Overview
Floating IPs are static IP addresses that can be instantly moved between instances in the same region. Unlike regular instance IPs that are tied to a specific server, floating IPs remain in your account and can be reassigned on demand.
This feature is available in our cloud locations (NLX, LAX, EWR, etc.) and provides the flexibility to build highly available infrastructure without DNS propagation delays.
Benefits
Instant Failover
Move IP addresses between instances in seconds without waiting for DNS propagation.
High Availability
Maintain service continuity by quickly switching to backup instances during maintenance or failures.
Static IP Preservation
Keep the same public IP even when replacing or upgrading instances.
Flexible Architecture
Design resilient systems with manual or automated failover capabilities.
Common Use Cases
Production Web Servers
Point your domain to a floating IP. If your primary server needs maintenance, instantly move the IP to a standby server without downtime.
Database Failover
Use floating IPs for database connections. Switch between primary and replica databases without reconfiguring applications.
Blue-Green Deployments
Deploy new versions on separate instances, test thoroughly, then instantly switch production traffic by moving the floating IP.
IP Whitelisting
Maintain consistent IP addresses for services that require whitelisting, even when changing underlying infrastructure.
Creating a Floating IP
Step 1: Access Cloud Control Panel
Log in to the Cloud Control Panel.
Step 2: Navigate to Floating IPs
- Click the hamburger menu icon (three horizontal lines) at the top-left
- Click on Cloud, then Floating IPs
Step 3: Create New Floating IP
- Click the plus (+) icon at the bottom-right of the screen
- Select your desired region (e.g., NLX, LAX, EWR)
- Select the network (typically "floating-ip")
- Click Create
The floating IP will be allocated and appear in your Floating IPs list.
Assigning to an Instance
Step 4: Navigate to Instance
- Return to the Cloud Control Panel main menu
- Click Cloud, then Instances
- Select the instance you want to assign the floating IP to
Step 5: Assign Floating IP
- Click on the Networking tab
- Click Assign Floating IP
- Select your floating IP from the dropdown
- Select the appropriate port/interface
- Click Associate IP
The floating IP is now active on your instance and can receive traffic immediately.
Migrating Between Instances
To move a floating IP from one instance to another:
- Go to the Floating IPs page in the Cloud Control Panel
- Find the floating IP you want to move
- Click Disassociate to remove it from the current instance
- Navigate to your target instance's Networking tab
- Click Assign Floating IP and select the IP
- The IP will be active on the new instance within seconds
Important
There may be a brief interruption (typically a few seconds) during the migration as the IP moves between instances. Plan accordingly for production systems.
Limitations & Considerations
- Floating IPs can only be moved between instances in the same region
- A floating IP can only be assigned to one instance at a time
- Floating IPs are billed hourly even when not assigned to an instance
- Not all regions support floating IPs - check availability in your target region
- You may need to configure your instance's network settings to properly handle the floating IP
Pro Tip
For automated high availability, consider using floating IPs with monitoring tools that can automatically reassign IPs when failures are detected. This creates a robust failover system with minimal manual intervention.