Dynamic DNS - dnsdynamic and no-ip

Dynamic DNS (ddns) allows for remote access to publicly hosted server with dynamic IP address, using a pre-defined URL. 

I am covering two dynamic DNS providers offering free services, and how to setup their ddns clients respectively:

1. No-IP

No-IP comes with its own linux ddns client, which can be installed using "apt-get noip2". 

To manually setup your details, run noip2 with the "-C" option. 

root@web-host:# noip2 -h

USAGE: noip2 [ -C [ -F][ -Y][ -U #min]

        [ -u username][ -p password][ -x progname]]

        [ -c file][ -d][ -D pid][ -i addr][ -S][ -M][ -h]

Version Linux-2.1.9

Options: -C               create configuration data

         -F               force NAT off

         -Y               select all hosts/groups

         -U minutes       set update interval

         -u username      use supplied username

         -p password      use supplied password

         -x executable    use supplied executable

         -c config_file   use alternate data path

         -d               increase debug verbosity

         -D processID     toggle debug flag for PID

         -i IPaddress     use supplied address

         -I interface     use supplied interface

         -S               show configuration data

         -M               permit multiple instances

         -K processID     terminate instance PID

         -z               activate shm dump code

         -h               help (this text)

Note: the /usr/local/etc/noip2.conf returns some seemly encrypted text, so it's not meant to be changed. 

2. DNSdynamic

DNSdynamic service uses ddclient in ubuntu. Herewith my configuration for reference:

root@ubuntu:# cat /etc/ddclient.conf

# Configuration file for ddclient generated by debconf

#

# /etc/ddclient.conf

daemon=60

protocol=dyndns2

use=web, web=checkip.dyndns.org

server=www.dnsdynamic.org

login= (username)

password=(password)

(domain).dnsdynamic.com

Replace the corresponding fields with your own account details.

P.S. Remember to set up port forwarding if your servers are sitting behind NAT.