> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.xloud.tech/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Floating IP Addresses

> Allocate, associate, and release floating IPs for external access to Xloud Compute instances using the Dashboard or CLI.

## Overview

Floating IPs provide external access to instances running on private networks. A floating
IP maps a publicly routable address to an instance's private port via NAT on the router.
You can associate, disassociate, and reassign floating IPs without downtime.

<Note>
  **Prerequisites**

  * An active Xloud account with appropriate permissions
  * Access to the **Xloud Dashboard** or CLI configured with credentials
  * API credentials sourced (`source openrc.sh`)
</Note>

<Note>
  A router with an external gateway must be connected to the instance's network before
  floating IPs can be associated. See [Routers](/services/networking/routers).
</Note>

***

## Allocate a Floating IP

<Tabs>
  <Tab title="Dashboard" icon="gauge">
    <Steps titleSize="h3">
      <Step title="Navigate to Floating IPs">
        Navigate to **Network > Floating IPs** in the sidebar. Click **Allocate IP**.
      </Step>

      <Step title="Configure the allocation">
        | Field                   | Type      | Required         | Description                                                          |
        | ----------------------- | --------- | ---------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------- |
        | **Network**             | Dropdown  | Yes              | Select the external network to allocate from                         |
        | **Owned Subnet**        | Dropdown  | No               | Optionally select a specific subnet within the external network      |
        | **Floating IP Address** | Text      | No               | Request a specific IP (shown after subnet selection, when not batch) |
        | **Description**         | Text area | No               | Label the IP's intended use                                          |
        | **Batch Allocate**      | Checkbox  | No               | Toggle to allocate multiple IPs at once                              |
        | **Count**               | Number    | If batch enabled | Number of IPs to allocate (default: 2)                               |

        <Note>
          Administrators see an additional **Project** selector to allocate IPs
          for other projects. If QoS is enabled on the platform, a **QoS Policy**
          selector also appears for all users.
        </Note>
      </Step>

      <Step title="Allocate">
        Click **Confirm**. The floating IP appears in the list with status **Down**
        (not yet associated with an instance).

        <Check>Floating IP allocated and ready for association.</Check>
      </Step>
    </Steps>
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="CLI" icon="terminal">
    ```bash title="Source credentials" theme={null}
    source openrc.sh
    ```

    ```bash title="Allocate floating IP from external network" theme={null}
    openstack floating ip create public
    ```

    Replace `public` with the name of your external network.
  </Tab>
</Tabs>

***

## View Floating IPs

<Tabs>
  <Tab title="Dashboard" icon="gauge">
    Navigate to **Network > Floating IPs**. The list shows:

    | Column                  | Description                                              |
    | ----------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------- |
    | **ID/Floating IP**      | The allocated public address (clickable to view details) |
    | **Description**         | Optional description text                                |
    | **Associated Resource** | Instance or port bound to this IP (if associated)        |
    | **Status**              | Available, Pending, Active, Error, or Down               |
    | **Created At**          | Allocation timestamp                                     |
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="CLI" icon="terminal">
    ```bash title="List all floating IPs" theme={null}
    openstack floating ip list
    ```
  </Tab>
</Tabs>

***

## Associate with an Instance

<Tabs>
  <Tab title="Dashboard" icon="gauge">
    <Steps titleSize="h3">
      <Step title="Open the Associate dialog">
        On the floating IP row, click **Associate** (available when status is
        `Down` or `Available`).
      </Step>

      <Step title="Select the target">
        Select the instance port to associate with from the fixed IP table.
        Ports that are not routable to the external network show a reason label.

        Click **Confirm**.

        <Check>The floating IP status changes to **Active** and shows the associated instance.</Check>
      </Step>
    </Steps>
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="CLI" icon="terminal">
    <CodeGroup>
      ```bash title="Associate floating IP to instance" theme={null}
      openstack server add floating ip <INSTANCE> <FLOATING_IP>
      ```

      ```bash title="Associate to specific fixed IP" theme={null}
      openstack server add floating ip \
        --fixed-ip-address <FIXED_IP> \
        <INSTANCE> <FLOATING_IP>
      ```
    </CodeGroup>
  </Tab>
</Tabs>

***

## Disassociate a Floating IP

<Tabs>
  <Tab title="Dashboard" icon="gauge">
    On the floating IP row, click **Disassociate** (available when status is `Active`).
    Confirm the action. The IP returns to `Down` status and can be reassigned.
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="CLI" icon="terminal">
    ```bash title="Remove floating IP from instance" theme={null}
    openstack server remove floating ip <INSTANCE> <FLOATING_IP>
    ```
  </Tab>
</Tabs>

***

## Release a Floating IP

<Tabs>
  <Tab title="Dashboard" icon="gauge">
    Click the **More** dropdown on the floating IP row and select **Release**.
    The IP is returned to the external network pool.

    <Danger>
      Releasing a floating IP is permanent. If you release a static IP that DNS
      records or external systems reference, those references will break immediately.
    </Danger>
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="CLI" icon="terminal">
    ```bash title="Release floating IP" theme={null}
    openstack floating ip delete <FLOATING_IP_ID>
    ```
  </Tab>
</Tabs>

***

## Next Steps

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Routers" href="/services/networking/routers" color="#197560">
    Set up the external gateway required for floating IP routing
  </Card>

  <Card title="Security Groups" href="/services/networking/security-groups" color="#197560">
    Allow inbound traffic on the floating IP's port
  </Card>

  <Card title="Create a Network" href="/services/networking/create-network" color="#197560">
    Provision the internal network for your instances
  </Card>

  <Card title="Launch an Instance" href="/services/compute/launch-instance" color="#197560">
    Create an instance to associate the floating IP with
  </Card>
</CardGroup>