# How Cisco IOS/XE and Arista EOS Handle Multiple IP Addresses in "ip host" Configuration

DevFeed: [How Cisco IOS/XE and Arista EOS Handle Multiple IP Addresses in "ip host" Configuration](<https://devfeed.tech/articles/the-curious-case-of-ip-host-configuration-command-11238.md>)

Original publisher: [Read original article](<https://blog.ipspace.net/2025/09/ip-hosts-configuration/>)

Published: 2025-09-11T07:51:00Z

Content type: article

Language: en

Sources: [ipSpace.net blog](<https://devfeed.tech/sources/ipspace-net-blog.md>)

Topics: [networking](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/networking.md>), [Cisco](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/cisco.md>), [IP routing](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/ip-routing.md>)

Tags: [cisco](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/cisco.md>), [ethernet](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/ethernet.md>), [ip](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/ip.md>), [ip-routing](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/ip-routing.md>), [mapping](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/mapping.md>), [netlab](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/netlab.md>), [networking](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/networking.md>), [ospf](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/ospf.md>), [router](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/router.md>)

## AI overview

The article examines how Cisco IOS Classic, Cisco IOS/XE, and Arista EOS handle multiple IP addresses in the ip host configuration command. It reports differing behavior in host displays, ping target selection, and address ordering, based on a two-router OSPF lab.

## Source excerpt

Since time immemorial, I have used the ip host router configuration command to get host-to-IP mappings in networking labs without going through the hassle of setting up a DNS server. Some devices even accepted multiple IP addresses in the ip host command, allowing you to list all router interfaces in a single command and get reverse (IP-to-host) mapping working like a charm. Or so I thought 🤦♂ It turns out I'm too old, and what I know is sometimes no longer true. It seems that the last implementation working as I expected is Cisco IOS Classic ☹ Read more ...