Plesk keeps its own list of the server's IP addresses and decides which sites use which IP. Most sites share one IP, while some customers need a dedicated IP. When your provider adds IPs to the server, you also have to tell Plesk about them. This guide covers the administrator's IP tasks.
Before you start
- Plesk administrator access.
- New IPs must already be routed to the server and configured on the network interface (on a VPS, see VPS IP addresses).
View the IP list
Go to Tools & Settings → IP Addresses. You see each IP with its interface, type (Shared or Dedicated), the default SSL certificate, the number of sites using it and to whom it is assigned.
Add new IPs
- Reread IP: if the IP is already configured in the OS, click Reread IP. Plesk detects it and adds it to the list.
- Add IP Address: lets Plesk configure the IP on an interface. Enter the IP with its prefix (for example
203.0.113.11/24), choose the interface and type, and click OK. Prefer configuring IPs in the OS so they survive outside Plesk.
Shared vs dedicated
| Type | Behaviour | Use for |
|---|---|---|
| Shared | Many subscriptions on one IP; SSL works through SNI | Almost all websites |
| Dedicated | Only one subscription can use the IP | Customers needing their own IP, special mail or legacy requirements |
Click an IP to change its type. A dedicated IP can only be switched while it is not used by more than one subscription.
Assign IPs to resellers
Resellers see only IPs in their pool. Open Resellers, click the reseller, go to IP Addresses and click Assign IP Address. They can then use it for their customers' subscriptions. See customers and resellers.
Change a subscription's IP
- Go to Subscriptions and open the subscription.
- Click Change Hosting Settings (or Hosting & DNS → Hosting).
- Choose the new IPv4 and IPv6 addresses and save.
If Plesk hosts the DNS, the zone is updated automatically. If DNS is external, update the A and AAAA records there, or the site will go offline.
Default site and certificate per IP
- Click the IP and choose the Default site: the site shown when someone opens the IP directly. Choose a neutral placeholder rather than a customer site.
- Choose the SSL/TLS certificate used for clients without SNI support – usually the server hostname's certificate.
IPv6
Add the server's IPv6 address the same way. Assign it to subscriptions alongside IPv4 so sites answer on both. Make sure DNS gets AAAA records and that mail servers have a matching IPv6 PTR, or use IPv4 only for outgoing mail.
Troubleshooting
- New IP not listed after Reread: it is not configured on the interface. Check
ip addr. - Cannot remove an IP: subscriptions or resellers still use it. Move them first.
- Site shows another site's content: DNS points to an IP the subscription does not use; the default site for that IP answers.