you’ve got the option to often set up DDNS on your router.
Your home internet connection has a numeric IP address that changes over time.
What Is Dynamic DNS (DDNS)?
These addresses are numeric, in the format 123.123.123.123, and are not particularly memorable.
Remember the last time you went to 66.220.158.68 to see pictures of your new niece?
Of course, you don’t because you typed facebook.com into your web surfing app instead of 66.220.158.68.
Wouldn’t it be great if you could set up the same trick for your home connection?
This is where Dynamic DNS (DDNS) comes into play.
Once they have the IP address, it doesn’t change.
Your home IP address is different, though.
People withresidential connections get a dynamically assigned IP address.
This is where Dynamic DNS comes into play.
Why Would I Want to Use Dynamic DNS?
Not everyone needs to use a Dynamic DNS service.
It’ll always be some.memorable.address even if your IP address changes every day.
What Do I Need to Use Dynamic DNS?
You only need two things to use Dynamic DNS with your home internet connection.
First, you need a Dynamic DNS provider.
This service will continuously update the DNS entry for the memorable hostname you’ve selected.
There are free options and premium options.
Let’s look at Dynamic DNS features you might be interested in and then dig into some suggested providers.
In many situations, that’s the only consideration.
But there are quite a few useful features to keep mind while shopping around.
Several router manufacturers offer routers that not only support DDNS and but also include a manufacturer-provided DDNS option.
For example, if you own a compatible TP-Link router, you might set upa basic yourname.tplinkdns.com DDNS address.
ASUS offers a similar option on compatible routers, wherein you geta free yourname.asuscomm.com DDNS address.
On the upside, these services are both free and dead simple to set up.
On the downside, the free service is tied to a specific manufacturer and equipment.
Then you’re free to keep your name and parameters even if you switch out hardware.
The Best Free Dynamic DNS Providers
There’s a very welcome trend among Dynamic DNS providers.
Most providers offer a free tier with more than enough options to serve your average home user.
Dynu
Dynuis one of the oldest DDNS providers, and their free tier is fantastic.
They likely have every feature you need, either in the free tier or for a modest upgrade fee.
They don’t require you to login to confirm account activity.
you’ve got the option to easily set up web redirects and forwards on a free account.
Afraid.org
TheAfraid.orgwebsite looks like a 1990s-era Gopher interface, but don’t let that put you off.
Speaking of domains, Afraid.org stands out on our list for the sheer number of domains available.
you could pick from options like yourname.raspberryip.com, yourname.twilightparadox.com, yourname.happyminecraft.org, or thousands of other domains.
No-IP
No-IPis another long-time DDNS provider but more geared toward commercial users.
No-IP does support port forwarding and URL forwarding.
Where DuckDNS shines, the straightforward simplicity aside, is the extensive directions provided by the team.
They have documentation for configuring DuckDNS on over two dozen operating systems and router platforms.
They even have documentation that digs into DDNS standards.
Below are all the methods you’re free to use.
you might manually update the IP address entry for your home internet address with any Dynamic DNS provider.
There’s no good reason to skip automating the process.
Because it’s the very thing connecting your home connection to the internet.
Thankfully, router support for Dynamic DDNS is very common.
So common, in fact, that it’s unusual to find a modern router without it.
But don’t worry.
There are plenty of workarounds that, under real-world conditions, will be indistinguishable from having router-based updates.
Dynu, for example, offersan Android-based DDNS updater.
Many NAS platforms support DDNS.
Dynu has instructions onhow to set up a DDNS update script on a Piwith their service, as doesNo-IP.
you’re able to also alwaysrun ddclient on your Pi, too.
Head over toDynu’s sign-up page hereand sign up for an account.
Confirm the registration in your email.
select “DDNS Services.”
Click “Save” once you’re happy with your selection.
Click save once you’ve confirmed everything looks good.
For basic no-frills DDNS redirection, that’s all there is to it.
The other half is automating the whole process.
Let’s look at how to automate DDNS updates at the router level.
To demonstrate, here’s what the DDNS options on an ASUS router look like.
you’re able to find thedownloads section for Dynu Systems here.
Grab the appropriate app for your system (in our case, Windows) and download it.
By default, the app will start with Windows.
Apps from other DDNS providers function in the same way.
How Do I look to see if My Dynamic DNS Address Is Working?
It should resolve tothe public IP address of the local networkyou have pointed the address at.
you could also simply use the address as you intend to use it.
Do I Need Dynamic DNS If I Have a Static IP?
Do I Need a Premium Dynamic DNS Provider?
No, the majority of people don’t need to pay for a premium DDNS provider.
Can I Use My Own Domain Name with Dynamic DNS?
Yes, it’s possible for you to use your own domain name.
Can I Use Custom Sub Domains with Dynamic DNS?
What Happens If My Dynamic DNS Updater Is Offline?
Do I Need to Leave My Dynamic DNS Updater Online All the Time?
Typically ISP-driven IP changes are fairly infrequent.
It’s very unlikely your ISP is changing your IP address every day.
What Happens If My Dynamic DNS Provider Is Offline?
Is Dynamic DNS Encrypted?
Dynamic DNS is not encrypted and simply provides an alternative to creating and manually updating a regular DNS entry.
There is such a thing asencrypted DNS, but it’s a separate concept from dynamic DDNS.
Does Dynamic DNS Hide My Home IP Address?
No, dynamic DNS does not hide your IP address.
Can I Use Dynamic DNS to Self-Host a Web Site?
Yes, you could use dynamic DNS to assist in self-hosting a website on your home web link.
Does Dynamic DNS Offer Security Benefits?
No, dynamic DNS doesn’t offer any sort of security benefits.
There is nothing inherently secure or security-enhancing about using it.
You’re simply tacking a memorable name onto your less-than-memorable IP address.
So be sure toproperly secure your routerand be selective with whatports and services you expose to the internet.
Dynamic DNS doesn’tprotect against port scanning.
Is It a Security Risk to Use Dynamic DNS?
Practically speaking, there isn’t a security risk to using dynamic DNS.
There is, however, one fringe but potential security risk to be aware of.
That’s an astronomically small fringe scenario, though.
