OT: Free Dynamic DNS provider?

[Roger Mills]

I've been using DynDNS for a few years, but they're about to close down their free service and start charging.

All I want to do is to be able to get remote access to the router at my holiday flat every now and then, to make sure that the internet connection is still alive and well. And I suppose it's just possible that I might at some time install some gear to monitor and/or control the heating remotely.

I've had a go at DNSDynamic but can't seem to be able to get it to work in the same way as DynDNS - or *at* *all* for that matter!

Can anyone recommend a free service which will enable me to assign a symbolic address to the router, and which will automatically update every time the IP address changes?

[Michael Chare]

The update (re-registration of changed address) depends on equipment at the user end. - Typically a broadband router.

[Graham.]

Just use this route to get a free account.

Once created you can log in and administer it via the normal dyndns portal at

Of course you have a piece of D-Link kit; who hasn't? ;-)

[John Rumm]

I thought you were using plusnet, who offer static IPs anyway?

[Reentrant]

Yes - and for a one-off £5 fee which is a lot less than many other ISPs. I was in a similar position until I realised. It's just a couple of clicks away (account / connection / add-ons)

[Jeremy Nicoll - news posts]

Could you roll your own?

Is it just the router that's on, or is there a connected PC? (If there's no connected PC, why would you leave the router on?)

If there is a PC, surely all you need is for it to run a script that determines the current router address - maybe by doing a traceroute to somewhere and seeing what IP address is shown for the router on the outbound traffic? Or visiting any of the webpages that show your IP address (maybe using curl to grab the page)? Then parse the value out and write it to a text file on your web space, using curl again?

[Graham.]

I made a decision not to take up my ISPs offer of a free static IP and prefer to use dyndns. Case in point, my asterisk box is currently under attack (from 188.165.246.188) I have blocked that address for now in my firewall (and fail2ban makes life difficult for them anyway), but as my dynamic address isn't even sticky, a router reboot will secure me a new one, and dyndns will update immediately.

[Roger Mills]

Only on *some* accounts. The flat is on "essentials" which doesn't appear to qualify.

[I've got a virtually fixed IP address at home, from years back. It could, in theory, change - but never does. But the one at the flat changes every time the connection is re-established]

[Roger Mills]

Ta. I'll have a look. That one is mentioned in the (Thomson) router documentation.

[Roger Mills]

I haven't, I'm afraid - it's a Thomson, provided by Plusnet.

[Roger Mills]

Seemingly not if you've only got an "essentials" account.

[Roger Mills]

Just the router - no connected PC - when we're not there. The general advice seems to be to leave routers on all the time so that they don't have to start re-negotiating speed after a break. And, by checking it remotely, I'm forewarned of any possible connection problems.

[Jeremy Nicoll - news posts]

Ah, ADSL? It's not like that with my VM connection. I don't think I'd be willing to leave an unnecessary electrical device switched on for so long unattended though.

You might be able to rig up a low-power monitor using eg a Raspberry Pi.

[John Rumm]

I think there were some lines above between which you were supposed to read ;-)

[Mike Tomlinson]

En el artículo , Graham. escribió:

[e-mail]

[Bob Eager]

My Asterisk box gets a lot of attacks from OVH IPs...

[Roger Mills]

Except that, if you follow the l "Attention: This is a complementary service for D-Link customers only. We monitor this portal carefully, and should we detect that you are not a D-Link customer, your account will be deactivated without notice. If you are not a D-Link user, please see below."

And "below", you can sign up for a free trail - but will ultimately have to pay.

Are they bluffing?

[I have actually got some D-Link power line adapters - but no router FWIW]