Find the IP Address of a website or server (Mac, Windows, and Linux) covered in this article.
A public IP address can indicate an approximate network location and ISP, but it does not reveal a device’s precise physical location.
Each network interface uses an IPv4 or IPv6 address for communication. Public addresses may be shared through NAT, proxies, or load balancers.
IP stands for Internet Protocol. A domain can resolve to one or more IPv4 or IPv6 addresses, including CDN or reverse-proxy addresses rather than the origin server’s IP. Knowing the IP address of your website is vital, even though you might not be concerned about the address of any random website.
Here are three quick and effective ways to find out the IP address of a server.
- Check your Welcome Mail: The corporation usually includes the server’s IP address in the welcome email.
- Use the ping command: to resolve a hostname to an IP address. The result may be a CDN, proxy, or load-balancer address rather than the origin server.
- Global DNS Checker for IP Lookup: Use the Internet Global DNS checking tool.
1: Check Your Welcome Mail
A hosting welcome email may include the account’s shared or dedicated server IP address. If it is absent or outdated, check the hosting control panel or contact the provider.
Follow the steps listed below if you cannot locate the domain to IP.
When you sign up for hosting services, most hosting providers send a welcome email containing important details about your account and server. This email typically includes the server’s IP address along with other essential information.
Steps:
- Open your email client and locate the welcome email from your hosting provider. This email is usually sent to the address you registered with the service.
- Search for keywords like “IP Address,” “Server Information,” or “Login Details” within the email.
- Locate the IP address within the email. It will often be listed under headings like “Server IP,” “Shared IP,” or “Dedicated IP.”
For Example,
Subject: Welcome to Your Hosting Service!
Dear Customer,
Welcome to [Hosting Provider]. Below are your server details:
Server IP: 192.0.2.1
Username: your username
Password: your password
Thank you for choosing our service!
Best regards,
[Hosting Provider] Team
By checking the welcome email, you can quickly find the server’s IP address without needing to perform any additional steps.
2: Use the Ping Command
The Ping command is a simple and effective method for finding the IP address of a server. Ping first resolves the hostname to an IP address and then sends ICMP echo requests. The resolved IP is normally displayed even if the server or firewall blocks ICMP replies.
Steps:
Open the Command Prompt (Windows) or Terminal (Mac/Linux):
- Windows: Press Win + R, type cmd, and press Enter.
- Mac: Press Cmd + Space, type Terminal, and press Enter.
- Linux: Open your preferred terminal application.
Type the Ping command followed by the domain name of the server. For example:
- ping example.com
Press Enter and wait for the response. The resolved address will be displayed in the output, but it may belong to a CDN, reverse proxy, or load balancer rather than the origin server.
Example Output:
- Python
- Pinging example.com [192.0.2.1] with 32 bytes of data:
- Reply from 192.0.2.1: bytes=32 time=50ms TTL=56
- Reply from 123.45.67.89: bytes=32 time=50ms TTL=56
In this example, 192.0.2.1 is the address to which example.com resolved. It is a documentation-only IPv4 address.
3: Use a Global DNS Checker for IP Lookup
A Global DNS Checker is an online tool that allows you to look up the IP address of a domain name by querying various DNS servers worldwide. This method is useful if you want to confirm the server’s IP address from multiple locations or if you do not have access to a terminal.
Steps:
1: Visit a Global DNS Checker website. Some popular options include:
- Whatsmydns.net
- DNSchecker.org
- ViewDNS.info
- arzhost.com/tools/dns-lookup
2: Enter the domain name of the server into the search bar. For example, type example.com.
3: Select A to find IPv4 addresses or AAAA to find IPv6 addresses.
4: Click on the search button to initiate the lookup.
Example:
When you enter example.com and choose A record, the tool will query multiple DNS servers and display the results. The results show the IP addresses published in the domain’s DNS records.
Example Output:
- DNS results for example – A Record
- Location IP Address
- New York, USA 192.0.2.1
- London, UK 192.0.2.1
- Tokyo, Japan 192.0.2.1
- Sydney, Australia 192.0.2.1
In this example, the documentation address 192.0.2.1 is returned by DNS resolvers in multiple locations.
Finding a server’s IP address is straightforward with these three methods. Whether you prefer checking your welcome mail, using the Ping command, or utilizing an online DNS checker, each approach provides a quick and reliable way to obtain the information you need.
By mastering these techniques, you can efficiently manage and troubleshoot your server connections.
Conclusion
This post should provide you with a few different approaches to finding the IP address of a website. You now understand how to locate a website, server, or domain’s IP address. Going forward, use any one of these three techniques to find the IP address of a website.
FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
1: What is an IP address, and why do I need to find it?
An IP address is an IPv4 or IPv6 identifier assigned to a network interface. Addresses can change and may be shared through NAT, proxies, or load balancers. Finding a server’s IP address is essential for tasks like troubleshooting network issues, setting up remote connections, and configuring firewalls.
2: How can I find the IP address of a server on my local network?
Run ipconfig on the Windows server itself, ipconfig getifaddr en0 or ifconfig on macOS, or ip addr on Linux. From another authorized device, check local DNS, the router’s client list, or the ARP/neighbor table.
3: What if I need to find the IP address of a server on a different network or the internet?
Use dig, nslookup, or ping to resolve the server’s hostname. Traceroute analyzes the route to the resolved destination; CDN and proxy configurations may prevent discovery of the origin server. Alternatively, you can use online services or network scanning tools specifically designed for this purpose.
4: Can I find a website’s server IP address from my browser?
While web browsers don’t typically provide direct access to a website’s server IP address, you can use online tools or browser extensions specifically designed for this task. These tools often reveal additional technical information about a website, including its IP address.
5: Are there privacy or security concerns associated with finding a server’s IP address?
Resolving a public hostname through DNS generally does not require permission. Unauthorized scanning, access attempts, exploitation, or attempts to bypass a CDN or security control can create security and legal concerns. In some cases, revealing a server’s IP address could potentially expose it to security threats or unauthorized access. It’s important to use this information responsibly and only for legitimate purposes.