Final answer:
A host can have multiple IP addresses to support different network configurations, segmented traffic, or for use with virtual machines and containers. This allows for flexible networking setups and efficient use of resources.
Step-by-step explanation:
Yes, a host can have more than one IP address. This is common in many network configurations. For example, a server can have one IP address for internal traffic within a corporate network and another IP address for external traffic on the internet. Additionally, virtual machines and containers on a single physical host may each have their own IP addresses, and network interface cards (NICs) can be configured with multiple IP addresses for various purposes like load balancing or network segmentation.
Moreover, a single network interface can be assigned both an IPv4 and IPv6 address, further increasing the number of possible IP addresses for a host. Network administrators manage these configurations to ensure that the network operates efficiently and securely, accommodating the specific needs of their organization's IT infrastructure.
It's also worth noting that the DHCP protocol allows a host to dynamically obtain an IP address from a network server, which means that a host might use different IP addresses at different times if so configured. Overall, multi-IP hosting is a flexible solution that supports complex networking requirements.