Every VPS is assigned at least one IP address, and you'll likely see both "IPv4" and "IPv6" mentioned in your Client Area and documentation. This guide explains what they are and what you actually need to know as a VPS owner.
What an IP Address Does
An IP address is how other computers on the internet find and connect to your server — similar to a postal address, but for network traffic. Every website, app, or service you run needs to be reachable at your server's IP address (typically via a domain name pointing to it).
IPv4: The Original, Still-Dominant Standard
IPv4 addresses look like 203.0.113.10 — four numbers separated by dots. This has been the standard since the early internet, but the total possible IPv4 addresses (about 4.3 billion) has been effectively exhausted globally, making IPv4 addresses increasingly scarce and valuable.
IPv6: The Newer, Larger-Capacity Standard
IPv6 addresses look like 2001:db8::1 — longer, using hexadecimal notation. IPv6 provides an astronomically larger address pool, designed specifically to solve IPv4 exhaustion long-term.
Does Your VPS Have Both?
Most VPS For Life plans include a dedicated IPv4 address, with IPv6 available depending on your specific plan and configuration. Check your Client Area service details to see exactly which addresses are assigned to your server.
Do You Need to Do Anything With IPv6?
For most use cases, no — your server functions correctly using IPv4 alone. However, enabling IPv6 (if available on your plan) is generally worthwhile since it's usually offered at no extra cost and improves reachability for the growing share of IPv6-only or IPv6-preferred networks. See How to Set Up IPv6 on Your VPS if you want to configure it.
Why This Matters for DNS
An IPv4 address is configured via an A record; an IPv6 address via an AAAA record. If you enable IPv6 on your server, you'll want to add a matching AAAA record so IPv6-connecting visitors can actually reach your site — see DNS Records Explained: A, AAAA, CNAME, MX, TXT & More.
A Simple Mental Model
| IPv4 | IPv6 | |
|---|---|---|
| Looks like | 203.0.113.10 | 2001:db8::1 |
| Availability | Scarce, often costs extra for additional IPs | Abundant |
| Do you need to worry about it day-to-day? | No — works automatically | No — optional, works automatically if enabled |
Common Errors
Confusing an internal/private IP with your public VPS IP — the IP address you use to actually reach your server from the internet is the one shown in your Client Area, not any internal Docker/container-network IP you might see with tools like ip a inside certain configurations.
FAQ
Do I need to choose between IPv4 and IPv6?
No — most modern servers run "dual-stack," supporting both simultaneously without conflict.
Will my site work if I don't configure IPv6 at all?
Yes, completely — the vast majority of internet traffic today still works perfectly fine over IPv4 alone.
Continue Reading
- How to Set Up IPv6 on Your VPS
- DNS Records Explained: A, AAAA, CNAME, MX, TXT & More
- How to Point a Domain to Your VPS (A/AAAA Records)
Browse more articles in Getting Started / VPS Basics.
