A method and a host for allocating a plurality of Internet Protocol (IP)
addresses to a Network Interface Card (NIC) which has a unique Media
Access Control (MAC) address comprising vendor code and serial code is
provided. The method for allocating multiple IP addresses to the NIC in a
host includes: setting up a virtual MAC address by combining a virtual
vendor code and a serial code; mapping the virtual MAC address with one
of internal addresses of actual IP addresses allocated to a host; and
allocating the mapped internal address and the virtual MAC address to an
application that requests an IP protocol. Since a plurality of IP
addresses can be allocated to one NIC in the IP address allocation
method, as many NICs as required IP addresses are not necessary and
cost-effectiveness can be achieved.