IP Addresses
============

All slices come with a public IPv4 address at minimum, with additional options.

.. Hint::
   All IP addresses assigned to a slice remain with your slice until it is deleted.
   For example, if you :doc:`rebuild` your slice, it's IP address(es) will not change.


Public IPv4
-----------

A public IPv4 address is provisioned when a slice is created.  It is unique to your 
slice and makes it reachable to the public internet.


.. _public_ip6:

Public IPv6
------------

There is no cost for an IPv6 IP.

A public IPv6 IP allows communication using the next generation IPv6 protocol.  IPv6 
use is encouraged, due to IPv4 address exhaustion.

Public IPv6 addresses are available on the :doc:`create <create>` pages as an option.


Assigning a Public IPv6
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

If a slice does not have an IPv6 address, you can assign one at any time:

#. Go to :ref:`slice_details` and power off.
#. At the top of the page, click :guilabel:`Assign` next to **IPv6**.
#. Confirm when prompted.

Once confirmed, the system will provision an IPv6 Address.  This usually takes only a
few seconds.  Once complete, slice status will go back to ``off``, and **IPv6**
will contain your new IP.  Power up your slice to begin using it.

.. _private_ip:

Private IPv4
------------

There is no cost for a Private IP.

A private IP address allows for communication with other slices within the same
region, using the local "backplane" network.  This is often faster and more secure,
due to these addresses not being reachable on the public internet.  Bandwidth is not 
counted toward usage when using private IP addresses, which makes them particularly 
suitable for low-latency / large amounts of bandwidth.  

Private IP addresses are available on the :doc:`create <create>` pages as an option.  
It is disabled by default since it is a good idea not to have one unless you need it
(and you will know if you need it).  

.. Caution::
   Although Private IPs are more secure due to not being open to the public internet,
   they are *still reachable by all slices in the same region* - not just yours, 
   Firewall appropriately.


Assigning a Private IP
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

If a slice does not have a private IP, you can assign one at any time:

#. Go to :ref:`slice_details` and power off.
#. At the top of the page, click :guilabel:`Assign` next to **Private IP**.
#. Confirm when prompted.

Once confirmed, the system will provision a Private IP.  This usually takes only a 
few seconds.  Once complete, slice status will go back to ``off``, and **Private IP** 
will contain your new IP.  Power up your slice to begin using it.

.. Warning::
   All IP addresses are released the moment a slice is deleted.  If a slice is 
   :doc:`recovered <../images/recovery>`, then in all likelihood the IP address(es) 
   will change.


FlexIP 
------

:doc:`FlexIPs <../networking/flexips>` are public IP addresses that can immediately be 
assigned or unassigned to any slice in the same region.  They are a separate feature of 
their own, but deserve mention here as they do allow for any slice to have an additional 
public IP.  Learn more about FlexIPs :doc:`here <../networking/flexips>`.

.. Note::
   FlexIPs are a separate resource which are reserved to your account.  Thus, they 
   are not released when a slice is deleted.