What is a dedicated IP used for in Minecraft?

What is the purpose of a dedicated IP in the world of Minecraft? As server service providers for this fascinating game, we offer the possibility of acquiring exclusive IP addresses for our clients through a small additional charge. We would like you to fully understand the purpose behind this fee, since IP addresses are a limited resource and, therefore, we are obligated to apply a nominal cost, although our wish would be to provide them for free to all our clients.

Opting for a dedicated IP means that you will be assigned a unique address composed of four numbers separated by dots (#.#.#.#), and the server will operate on port 25565, the default for Minecraft. If no port is specified along with the IP, the game client will automatically search on this port.

You might be wondering: Why consider a dedicated IP? Below, we present a list of aspects that could influence your decision when evaluating the inclusion of this feature in your Minecraft server hosting package.

Connecting a domain name:

If you want your server address to be yourdomain.com, you will need to purchase that domain name on a website like godaddy. It is important to note that yourdomain.com is NOT a dedicated IP, but a domain name that can redirect to your server's IP address. This entire process is configured within the DNS settings when purchasing the domain. Once properly configured, you will be able to connect to the server using the domain name or the IP, which we will call the server address.

How to get a custom IP for your Minecraft server:

If you have purchased a domain name, you have two options. You can redirect the domain (yourdomain.com) to your server address and use it directly. However, most people choose to reserve the domain for the website and place the actual server address at play.yourdomain.com or another subdomain of your choice. After creating an A record in your DNS manager and pointing it to the server IP, you won't have to worry about other configurations. Without a dedicated IP, setting up an SRV record is necessary to define the server port, since the default address goes directly to port 25565. Defining a port within an A record is not possible, so understanding how to implement SRV records is essential without a dedicated IP address.

Is a dedicated IP necessary for my Minecraft server?

In most cases, a dedicated IP address is recommended, as it simplifies server configuration and provides a unique IP that no one else knows.

In some situations, this may not be necessary, as we offer subdomains (yourserver.holy.gg) for free and we handle all the necessary configuration. This option makes it easy to get a named address for your server instead of relying on the IP, and a dedicated option is not required. During the checkout process, simply specify the desired subdomain, and it will be created upon receiving the order.

If you have more questions about whether you should use a dedicated IP address for your server or not, feel free to reach out to us through live chat. We are here to help.