How to use flexible IP addresses with Instances

This page shows you how to use flexible IP addresses. When you create an Instance, it gets the following by default:

• A public IP address, which is also a flexible IP address
• A private IP address

You can hold flexible IP addresses independently of any Instance, and attach and detach them to/from any of your Instances. You can keep a number of flexible IP addresses in your account at any given time. Flexible IP addresses allow you to do live migration of IP addresses between your Instances.

Before you start

To complete the actions presented below, you must have:

• A Scaleway account logged into the console
• Owner status or IAM permissions allowing you to perform actions in the intended Organization
• An Instance

How to detach a flexible IP address from an Instance

Detaching your Instance’s flexible (public) IP address cuts any ongoing public connection to the Instance. This feature gives you a lot of control if, for example, you want to put your Instances into a Private Network so that they can communicate between themselves without being exposed to the internet. This is particularly useful for Instances hosting databases, backups, or sensitive content. It also allows you to optimize your costs and fight the global IPv4 shortage.

1. Click Instances in the Compute section of the side menu. The Instances page displays.
2. Click the Instance whose IP address you want to detach. The Overview page for that Instance displays.
3. Click Detach next to Public IP.
4. Click Detach IP on the pop-up that asks you to confirm the action.
   Tip

   You can also detach a flexible IP by following step 1 above, then clicking on the Flexible IPs tab. From here, click «See more Icon» next to said Instance, and click Detach flexible IP from Instance.

How to create a new flexible IP address

1. Click Instances in the Compute section of the side menu. The Instances page displays.

2. Navigate to the Flexible IPs tab.

3. Click Create flexible IP. The flexible IP creation wizard displays.

4. Complete the following information in the wizard:

   • Choose an Availability Zone, which is the geographical region where your flexible IP will be created.
   • Optionally, select the Instance to which you want to attach this new flexible IP. You can only choose from Instances that do not already have a flexible IP attached to them.
   • Check the Estimated cost for the flexible IP.

5. Click Create flexible IP to finish.

   You are taken to the list of your flexible IPs, where the new flexible IP address you just created now appears.

How to attach an existing flexible IP address to an Instance

1. Click Instances in the Compute section of the side menu. The Instances page displays.
2. Navigate to the Flexible IPs tab.
3. Click «See more Icon» next to the flexible IP that you want to attach to an Instance. In the drop-down menu that opens, click Switch Instance.
   Note

   This option will only be clickable if you have existing Instances with no flexible IPs attached to them.

4. Confirm the Instance that you want to attach to this flexible IP in the pop-up window, and click Attach flexible IP to Instance.

How to delete a flexible IP address

When you no longer want one of your existing flexible IP addresses, you can delete it from your account, which releases it to be used by other users.

1. Click Instances in the Compute section of the side menu. The Instances page displays.

2. Navigate to the Flexible IPs tab.

3. Click «See more Icon» next to the flexible IP that you want to delete. In the drop-down menu which opens, click Delete.

4. Confirm that you want to delete the flexible IP in the pop-up window which opens, by clicking Delete flexible IP.

   The flexible IP is deleted. If it was attached to an Instance, that Instance now has no public IP address.