[KLUG Members] Looking for a new dynamic DNS.

[Bruce Smith]

> >Anyone care to recommend a good FREE dynamic DNS service that works well
> >with Linux?
> It happens I'm looking for one...
> 
> >I looked at dyndns.org, but they claim to block you for abuse if you
> >update your IP address more than once a month if your IP hasn't changed.
> ??? Seems silly. Let's see, why would your IP address change?
>   - Power failure... DHCP will assign you a new one.
>   - you run the update client too much?
>   - Your DHCP lease is too short, and you keep getting the same IP 
>     address, and you call the client whenever you get a new one.
>   - If not one of the above, maybe you're abusing?

They tell you how to program your own update-IP program, and tell you
that you must check if your public IP has changed in the program before
you execute an update.  (they also have ones you can download)

I got to looking at them because my Linksys WAP supports then in the
firmware.  Then I read in the dyndns.org docs that some Linksys routers
have a bug in the update program in their firmware ...   :-(

> It seems this is an indication that their service is REALLY popular; if an
> extra couple of packets from everyone per month is going to be a burden....

Could be.

> >no-ip.com looks promising.
> 24.95 a month? Nah!
> But... but.. wait! NOW I see thir free service!

I downloaded/compiled/executed their Linux program and it seems to work.
Hopefully it's dependable.  

I think I'd like to run two of these services to be safe.  
(as long as they are both free :)

> Now it's time for the FREE BONUS QUESTION!! :)
> 
> [Internet] ----->Cable Modem ---> VoIP Router ---> Firewall ----> LAN
> 
> This is related to the Dynamic IP question posed above, because my friend's
> current setup is as shown above, and I think I have to change it if he will
> be able to use dynamic DNS. Do you see the problem?

>From what I read, that shouldn't be a problem.  hn.org used a simple
'wget' program (with http authentication) to update their IP.  The
request appears to come from the public IP address, just like you were
surfing any web site.

Other dyn dns services seem to use similar update procedures.  no-ip.com
says their program works behind a firewall.

The only way to be sure is to try it.

> OK, if you don't, here it is. The DHCP client of the cable Internet service
> is the VoIP router, NOT the (Internet side of) the firewall. I can't run
> the Dynamic DNS client (which tells the DNS service when my IP address is
> changed) on the router, I have to run it on the Firewall.... but the Internet
> side of the firewall is actually a static address! It forms a wee little
> network, to the local side of the VoIP router....
> 
> I beleive that in order to work, I may have to reverse (or something) the
> order here; only bu connecting the firewall to the cable modem will I get
> these dynamic IP addressing schemes to work....

Is the VoIP route Vonage?  If so, I simply plugged my vonage router
internet port into my local LAN switch.  It gets an IP from my LAN's
DHCP server, and works fine.  No need for an extra hop.

 - BS