Using host headers to manage multiple websites on a single IP address

As we just saw, it is pretty straightforward to configure multiple websites inside IIS by assigning individual IP addresses for each site. It is common to run more than one site on a single web server, and so this sometimes means that your web servers have numerous IP addresses configured on them. However, there is really no need to use that many IP addresses just for hosting multiple websites. For example, you may be working on a web server that is internet-facing and there is a restriction on the amount of available public IP addresses that can be used. Or maybe each IP address allocation means coordinating with your network team, which might take days to navigate. We want to host multiple websites on a single IP address, but you don't want to force your users into having to type in specific port numbers in order to gain access to the right website.

This is where host headers come into play. Host headers...