Multiple Domains - Same IP Address

[austtr]

Just read some very animated discussions in the Google topic on another forum about multiple domain names pointing at one IP address. (I'll set the context later if this thread goes anywhere)

Being puzzled (permanent condition now) as to how that would work I checked out the info available from a major webhosting company and sure enough they cover it. Basically, their suggestion involves an asp script that uses redirects to control the HTTP_HOST server variable.... details of which are not relevant to this post.

Are redirects the only way to do this and are these the same redirects that Google rejects? If so, and assuming rankings are required for these domains, why would anyone load up a single IP address with domains that Google (and others?) is going to give the flick?

As that particular post was someting like 16 pages long, and many of the posters seemed to be in the seo business, I have the feeling I'm missing something here. Anybody able to throw some light on this?

[incywincy]

sounds very much like virtual hosting unless i've misunderstood your post.

virtual hosting is commonplace and as far as i am aware does not harm your SE ranking.