Dynamic DNS

Dynamic DNS or DDNS is a method of updating, in real time, a DNS to point to a changing IP address on the Internet. This is used to provide a persistent domain name for a resource that may change location on the network.

Router

Many routers have built in DDNS Services but can be limited in the services which they update. If the Router supports a the service, or you are willing to pay or donate for a service, you should do this, it is faster and more reliable. In that case, there is no need to use a softwareside solution.

Software Dynamic DNS

Afraid

FreeDNS.afraid.org is a free Service which is easy and uncomplicated to set up.

There are several options to enable automatic DDNS updating for this provider:

afraid-dyndns

The package afraid-dyndns-uv^AUR is available in the AUR.

ddclient

The package ddclient is available in the AUR. It includes systemd support. Unfortunately, it seems to generate broken update URLs for freedns: http://ddclient.tisnix.be/ticket/58

An example config file looks like this:

daemon=600
cache=/tmp/ddclient.cache
syslog=yes

use=web, web=checkip.dyndns.com/, web-skip='IP Address'

ssl=yes

## Configuration variables applicable to the 'freedns' protocol are:
#  protocol=freedns             ##
#  server=fqdn.of.service       ## defaults to freedns.afraid.org
#  login=service-login          ## login name and password registered with the service
#  password=service-password    ##
#  fully.qualified.host         ## the host registered with the service.
#
protocol=freedns,                                             \
login=my-freedns.afraid.org-login,                            \
password=my-freedns.afraid.org-password                       \
myhost.afraid.org

To enable the systemd service:

systemctl enable ddclient

cron

Another option is to:

• goto Dynamic DNS page on freedns.afraid.org
• add A record and select your prefered domain name
• copy link under Direct URL, it will be something like "http://freedns.afraid.org/dynamic/update.php?ZRRJZ...................bzo4Njc1M4DA"
• use crontab -e to enter new schedulled command:

*/10 * * * * curl -ks http://freedns.afraid.org/dynamic/update.php?ZRRJZ...................bzo4Njc1M4DA > /dev/null

Netctl

To add the record of your IP to freedns.afraid.org along with a network connection through the use with Netctl. You can append the following line to your netctl profile.

ExecUpPost='curl -ks http://freedns.afraid.org/dynamic/update.php?ZRRJZ...................bzo4Njc1M4DA'

DynDNS

DynDNS is another Dynamic DNS service.

DynDNS can be installed with the package dyndns^AUR, available in the AUR.