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I do it too, using www.no-ip.com

The basic idea of dynamic DNS services is that software on your computer routinely communicates, at a set interval, with the server of the dynamic DNS service provider. When the two are in sync, your server can then be accessed from a non-changing, plain-English URL.

Get a Linksys WRT54G, and get an account with dyndns.org. You can then set the Linksys to AUTOMATICALLY update your dynamic IP when it changes. You'll never have to do a thing. It's so simple.

This may be an option on other routers, but I don't know.

EDIT: If you want to use a domain name with it: Use your registrar's forwarding feature (seems like they all have it) to forward yourdomain.com to yourdomain.dyndns.org. Since your router is updating your IP automatically, yourdomain.dyndns.org will always point to your computer.

Last edited by EricP (2005-11-01 8:05 am)

INSTALLATION:

  cp ddclient /usr/sbin/
  mkdir /etc/ddclient
  cp sample-etc_ddclient.conf /etc/ddclient/ddclient.conf
  vi /etc/ddclient/ddclient.conf
  -- and change hostnames, logins, and passwords appropriately

  ## For those using Redhat style rc files and using daemon-mode:
  cp sample-etc_rc.d_init.d_ddclient /etc/rc.d/init.d/ddclient
  ## enable automatic startup when booting
  /sbin/chkconfig --add ddclient
  ## start the first time by hand
  /etc/rc.d/init.d/ddclient start

  ## If you are not using daemon-mode, configure cron and dhcp or ppp
  ## as described below.

I do it with DNSexit, which lets me do Dynamic DNS with my own domain name.  I have the domain registered separately with GoDaddy, and set the DNS servers there to the DNSexit servers.  DNSexit provides a simple Perl script that I placed on the web server (Gentoo Linux in my case), and then setup with a cron job to run hourly.  The script checks my external IP address, and if it's changed, sends an update to DNSexit.

You should be able to configure your server with a static IP address even if the router is set to assign IP addresses via DHCP.  Just make sure its part of the same subnet.  My router (Motorola WR850G) lets me specify the range of dynamic IPs, so I start those at x.x.x.50 and reserve the addresses below that for static IPs.  If you can't do that, just set it to a high static IP address (like x.x.x.240).  My router is capable of automatically updating, but only to a DynDNS and ChangeIP, as far as I can tell.

tpark wrote:

EricP wrote:

INSTALLATION:

  cp ddclient /usr/sbin/
  mkdir /etc/ddclient
  cp sample-etc_ddclient.conf /etc/ddclient/ddclient.conf
  vi /etc/ddclient/ddclient.conf
  -- and change hostnames, logins, and passwords appropriately

  ## For those using Redhat style rc files and using daemon-mode:
  cp sample-etc_rc.d_init.d_ddclient /etc/rc.d/init.d/ddclient
  ## enable automatic startup when booting
  /sbin/chkconfig --add ddclient
  ## start the first time by hand
  /etc/rc.d/init.d/ddclient start

  ## If you are not using daemon-mode, configure cron and dhcp or ppp
  ## as described below.

As Gippy said, ZoneEdit + ddclient is the best way. But, I'm not too up for all these installation command lines. I'm a Gentoo user and proud to be spoiled.

Code:

emerge ddclient && /etc/init.d/ddclient start && rc-update add ddclient default

ddclient is also available via Fink and DarwinPorts

Well, if you need a little help with it both Fink and Darwinports are a nice way to go. I think both even have GUI managers for them so after the initial installation of either system you don't have to go back into the command line again.

http://macupdate.com/info.php/id/17696
or
http://macupdate.com/info.php/id/18980