How to Add Extra IP Addresses to Your Server

OpenPanel uses the server's main IP for all accounts by default. With additional IPs you can give a customer a dedicated IP address - for their own SSL setup, a separate sending reputation, or simply because their plan includes one.

There are two parts: adding the IP to the server's network configuration, then assigning it to an account in OpenPanel.

Step 1: Order the IP from Your Provider​

The provider must route the additional IP to your server. It's called Additional IP, Floating IP, Failover IP or Secondary IP depending on the provider:

• Hetzner Cloud: Primary IPs / Floating IPs; Hetzner Robot: order additional IPs for the server.
• OVHcloud: Additional IP, then move it to your server.
• DigitalOcean: Reserved IPs (one per Droplet).
• Vultr, Linode: Add IPv4 address on the instance's network page.
• AWS: attach a secondary private IP to the instance and associate an Elastic IP with it.

Note the IP, the netmask/prefix and the gateway, if the provider gives you one.

Step 2: Add the IP to the Server​

Find your network interface name first:

ip -4 addr

It's usually eth0, ens3, enp1s0 or similar.

Ubuntu (netplan)​

Edit the netplan file in /etc/netplan/ (e.g. 50-cloud-init.yaml or 01-netcfg.yaml) and add the new IP under addresses:

network:
  version: 2
  ethernets:
    eth0:
      dhcp4: true
      addresses:
        - 203.0.113.50/32

Apply it:

netplan try      # applies and rolls back automatically if you lose connection
netplan apply

Debian (ifupdown)​

Add an alias to /etc/network/interfaces:

auto eth0:1
iface eth0:1 inet static
    address 203.0.113.50
    netmask 255.255.255.255

Then run ifup eth0:1.

AlmaLinux / Rocky Linux (NetworkManager)​

nmcli connection show                         # find the connection name, e.g. "System eth0"
nmcli connection modify "System eth0" +ipv4.addresses 203.0.113.50/32
nmcli connection up "System eth0"

Use the exact netmask and settings your provider documents - some require a /32 with a specific gateway, others a normal subnet.

Check​

hostname -I
ping -c 3 -I 203.0.113.50 1.1.1.1

Test from another machine that the IP answers, and reboot once to make sure the setting survives a restart.

Step 3: Assign the IP to an Account​

OpenPanel detects new IPs automatically - no extra configuration needed.

1. Go to OpenAdmin → Accounts → Users → username → Edit.
2. Select the new IP in the IP Address field.
3. Click Save.

Or from the terminal:

opencli user-ip USERNAME 203.0.113.50

OpenPanel updates the user's DNS zones and proxy configuration, so all their current and future domains use the dedicated IP. If a domain's DNS is hosted elsewhere, update its A record there.

See Assign a dedicated IP to a user.

Good to Know​

• License: only the server's main IP needs a license - additional IPs are free to use.
• Firewall: Sentinel Firewall (CSF) applies to all IPs on the server; no changes are needed.
• Email is still sent from the server's main IP, so its reverse DNS is the one that matters for mail.
• Removing a dedicated IP: opencli user-ip USERNAME delete moves the user back to the main IP. Do this before removing the IP from the server.

Related​

• Main IP in OpenPanel
• Change the server hostname or IP