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Documentation: Using a HTTP Action in Power Automate to Retrieve Flow Source IP Address with ipify API

Published May 6, 2024 Guide

This guide explains how to set up a Microsoft Power Automate flow that retrieves the source IP address of the flow using a HTTP action to call the ipify API. ipify is a simple public IP address API, which can be accessed using a simple HTTP request.

Prerequisites:

  • Access to Microsoft Power Automate.
  • Basic understanding of how to create and manage flows in Power Automate.

Steps to Set Up the Flow:

1. Create a New Flow:

  • Navigate to Microsoft Power Automate.
  • Choose to create a new flow. You can select an automated, instant, or scheduled flow depending on your needs. For this example, let's choose an Instant flow.
  • Name your flow and choose the appropriate trigger, such as a button trigger for manual testing.

2. Add a HTTP Action to Call the ipify API:

  • Add a new step by clicking on + New step.
  • Choose the HTTP action from the available connectors and triggers. If you can't find it directly, use the search box.
  • Configure the HTTP action as follows:
    • Method: GET
    • URI: http://api.ipify.org (This URL returns the public IP address of the source making the API call.)

3. Parse the Response:

  • Since ipify returns a simple text response, you might not need to parse JSON or XML. However, if you want to use the IP in further actions and prefer it to be in a structured format, you can add a Compose action to format the response or use it directly.
  • To add a Compose action:
    • Click on + New step.
    • Search for and select the Compose action.
    • In the inputs, use the dynamic content box to select the Body output from the HTTP action.

4. Use the IP Address in Your Flow:

  • You can now use the IP address captured by the Compose action in subsequent steps of your flow. For example, you might log it to a SharePoint list or send it via email for auditing purposes.

5. Save and Test Your Flow:

  • Save your flow by clicking on Save at the bottom or top of the flow configuration.
  • Test the flow by clicking on Test. Choose to manually trigger the action, and then follow the prompts to run the flow.
  • Check the output of the Compose action or subsequent actions to see the IP address retrieved.

Considerations:

  • IP Address Type: The IP address retrieved will be the public IP of the server running your Power Automate flow, which may be shared or may change over time depending on your network configuration and the nature of cloud services.
  • Security and Privacy: Be aware of any security and privacy implications of exposing your flow’s IP address, especially when logging or sending it through insecure channels.
  • API Reliability: While ipify is reliable, any third-party service can experience downtime. Consider handling errors gracefully in your flow to account for the API being temporarily unavailable.

This setup provides a straightforward method to obtain the source IP address of your Power Automate flow, useful for debugging, logging, or security purposes.