How to set up FQDN with Dynamic IP?

Question

Can I setup my www.example.com address when I have a dynamic external ip adress (no router) and if so whats needed to make it work?

The server is already installed with Ubuntu Server 12.04.3 and LAMP packages and works. I would like to use a domain name instead of the ip address since it changes.

score 1 · Answer 1 · answered Nov 07 '13 at 20:04

I use a dynamic dns provider such as dyndns* and then alias the fqdn to the name that is provided by the dynamic dns service. For example dyndns provides a hostname such as myhouse.dyndns.org and then a simple cname alias is created pointing www.example.com to myhouse.dyndns.org and voila!

this is not an endorsement for dyndns service, I am not associated with their service nor do I recommend it, but it is an example of how this can be done.

score 1 · Accepted Answer · answered Nov 07 '13 at 20:05

Use a DNS hosting service that provides dynamic DNS services, and follow their instructions to configure your server. You'll likely be instructed to install a program like ddclient.

Recommendations for DNS hosting services are beyond the scope of Ask Ubuntu.

score 1 · Answer 3 · answered Nov 07 '13 at 20:05

By the contents, this has more to do with your DNS provider then Ubuntu. If your server works using the IP, then the only thing that you need is a DNS provider that offers Dynamic DNS services (like DynDNS in your tags, or OpenDNS, etc....). You will need to pay both, the domain name (1 time pay) and the DNS to maintain it. Then configure Apache to resolve correctly the FQND and you are set.

score 1 · Answer 4 · answered Nov 07 '13 at 20:15

Adding to other answers:

I'd recommend using a static IP since dynamic DNS inherently brings potential problems related to caching: Even after the IP is updated, it can take tens of minutes before it propagates to most of the Internet. And in some places it can be even worse since sadly not all local DNS servers / clients respect TTLs properly.

Combined with how often IP changes and the costs for DDNS itself and costs of downtime, actually paying for the static IP might come cheaper.

score 0 · Answer 5 · answered Nov 07 '13 at 20:05

In order to use the dynamic DNS client, you first need to register at least one hostname (actually a fully qualified domain name—FQDN) with DynDNS.com.

The dynamic DNS client can work with the the Dynamic Hosts option, which is the option to use if you don't own a domain name, but you want to host a server on your network and have people reach it by entering a domain name.

Dynamic hosts are free to register with DynDNS.com, and allow you to associate a dynamic IP address with up to five of the static domain names that DynDNS.com provide.

Dynamic host IP associations require at least one update every 35 days to prevent them from expiring.

^{Source:How to Configure DDNS}

How to set up FQDN with Dynamic IP?

5 Answers5