Dynamic DNS, Webcam streaming and web domain services

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MegasXLR

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I have done some "research" on Dynamic DNS and DNS servers on MyBB and the net. What an learning curve, so many choices and methods?

I want to set up a web streaming service to monitor IP cams and my HTC desire webcam via the internet via http.
I also want to "host my own little private FTP server on my netgear router or separate linux server PC.
I would like to advance further having my own website for advertising my services and with time develop a internet based business for sales.

What I found so far: Thanks to MyBB posts and the web.

For seeing my Webcam, IP-cam (HTC HD) or any other IP camera:

I need to set up a Dynamic DNS account via OpenDNS, DynDNS or No-IP to publish my dynamic IP on a regular basis at a regular scheduled time or on boot?
I run My Webcam software drivers, PS3 webcam driver or IP-cam for HTC HD.
Use WebcamXP 5 or VLC player to stream the cam video via my local (?) Ip address to the specified forwarded port
Then configure my port forwarding in modem or UDP?
Set up the dynamic DNS servers as per account in the adsl modem
Then I should be able to use any web browser like Chrome or droid Mini-cam to see the streamed video?

For setting up a ftp/web page:

I additionally need a domain so I use the initial nameservers from DynDNS to register
a free .co.net or .co.org on site ZA NCI .za.net
Set up my FTP site on my router
Set up my Website local website on my PC or Linux server

Then I am nearly good to go? I I know there must be much more to it) :)

Any pros or cons for the above procedures?
Any advise or alternate recommendations?
What distro and Linux software is the best to use as server?
What windows software is recommended?

references:

Registering free local domain http://www.za.net/

DNS servers
Free public DNS servers (all supported directly in my NetgearGT834GT)
http://www.no-ip.com/services/managed_dns/free_dynamic_dns.html
http://www.dyndns.com/services/dns/dyndns/
https://www.opendns.com/dashboard/
http://www.everydns.com/dynamic.php


OpenVPN (do not know yet how this will help in this scheme of things?)

http://www.openvpn.net/index.php/open-source/documentation/howto.html
 
I'd say rather go with a web hosting service provider for your website: http://webmastera.republika.pl/ .
  • PC crashes/restarts = site down time
  • ADSL faults = site down time
  • ADSL's slow upload speeds = slow download/page view speed for visitors
  • ADSL disconnect and reconnect with new IP = downtime until new IP been send to DNS.

I can offer you a special deal for R140 per year hosting, 250MB disc space and 2Gb traffic on a US server. PM me for more details.

PS. For a business I'd recommend .co.za, look more professional. Also you are welcome to keep control (Registration/renewal) over your own domain while hosting by me.
 
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Agree with willemvdm and also with the domain. You can always add a .com but if you only operate as .com, then you will surprised at how many people will be suspicious of you - just talking from experience.
 
Hey

I would recommend hosting at mweb they have a new package with unlimited data and space for R99 per month or get a server for R330 per month with 60GB hard drive space 1 gb ram and unlimited traffic.
 
Hi MegasXLR,

I disagree with the opinions above. If you want to host your own webcams/ipcams, then I would surely host it myself rather than on another site (especially abroad!). All your content is already on your network. (Even if you host via another provider, the content will still have to come via your ADSL) If you want to do this for other people, I would rather look at a solution where they will also host it themselves.

I am hosting my ipcams at home via my adsl, and do not have any issues. This is my setup:
* I have a domain name with the nameservers provided by zoneedit. (The first 5 zones are free)
* I use Dns-O-Matic via my router to update my nameservers at Zoneedit with my dynamic IP. The advantage of Dns-O-Matic is that you can have multiple dynamic providers for the same IP.
*On the router I did a port forward for the IP cameras.

As this content is only for myself, I am happy to host it myself. This is one of the things we can do now that affordable uncapped is available.

One more thing: I found that a lot of IP cameras only works in Internet Explorer. So be careful when you buy an IP camera, especially if it is important for you to be able to watch in Chrome/Firefox.

I also have software on my cellphone that let me watch as well as control (pan/tilt) the cameras.
 
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I agree, for the video stream, that will probably also be for own personal use, it would be best done from a home based server. But MegasXLR also mention "website for advertising my services" That will be more directed at public use, hence for that I recommend getting a proper hosting provider. It is not that expensive.

However setting up your own web server is a fun project and a good opportunity to learn. So as long as it is just for fun and not for business, I'd say go for it.
 
Last edited:
willemvdm said:
I agree, for the video stream, that will probably also be for own personal use, it would be best done from a home based server. But MegasXLR also mention "website for advertising my services" That will be more directed at public use, hence for that I recommend getting a proper hosting provider. It is not that expensive.

However setting up your own web server is a fun project and a good opportunity to learn. So as long as it is just for fun and not for business, I'd say go for it.
Click to expand...

Now I can agree with you ;)
 
DynDNS is pretty much always supported by the modems/routers, where as the other Dynamic DNS providers aren't always supported.

I'm using MyDomain.com to manage my domains, instead of ZoneEdit, and it's also free.
I just have to add that you should avoid using MyDomain.com's E-mail forwarding, because I've had quite a few E-mails that never arrived when I used their forwarding service. Now I'm using Google Apps (also free) and it works flawlessly.

Just take note that registering a .za.net free domain can take quite long, compared to a paid .co.za domain which is within like 1 day.

Mweb has web hosting that starts at R19pm, but I don't really see a point as to why you'd want to make use of external web hosting facilities when your camera's are sitting at your home :)
There are also hundreds of international hosting sites where you can host content for free.
 
Thanks for the info so far guys, it's well appreciated.
I should thus plan to host the IP cams myself from home (private use mostly) as well as the personal "ftp server" in my WNDR3700 router and/or Linux box (PC).
I wanted to start of small with hosting a "home" website to get the experience and design the web page and once I get to grips with it move it over to a hosting service, that is if it's practical. (for fun)
Maybe I should then look into the MWeb hosting to play with first and then move to host abroad?
 
zamicro said:
Hi MegasXLR,

I disagree with the opinions above. If you want to host your own webcams/ipcams, then I would surely host it myself rather than on another site (especially abroad!). All your content is already on your network. (Even if you host via another provider, the content will still have to come via your ADSL) If you want to do this for other people, I would rather look at a solution where they will also host it themselves.

I am hosting my ipcams at home via my adsl, and do not have any issues. This is my setup:
* I have a domain name with the nameservers provided by zoneedit. (The first 5 zones are free)
* I use Dns-O-Matic via my router to update my nameservers at Zoneedit with my dynamic IP. The advantage of Dns-O-Matic is that you can have multiple dynamic providers for the same IP.
*On the router I did a port forward for the IP cameras.

As this content is only for myself, I am happy to host it myself. This is one of the things we can do now that affordable uncapped is available.

One more thing: I found that a lot of IP cameras only works in Internet Explorer. So be careful when you buy an IP camera, especially if it is important for you to be able to watch in Chrome/Firefox.

I also have software on my cellphone that let me watch as well as control (pan/tilt) the cameras.
Click to expand...

Great, I opened a port 8080 on my router and then tried to access a cam from the net but no go. When I used a site called canyouseeme.org it said the port is still closed, but that was at 5am so anything was possible then so I still have to look into it again. Just a question about IP's. From the outside (interwebz side) I should use the ISP (Mweb) IP as shown on the router if I am correct but from my local network I use the cam IP as configured?
 
MegasXLR said:
Great, I opened a port 8080 on my router and then tried to access a cam from the net but no go. When I used a site called canyouseeme.org it said the port is still closed, but that was at 5am so anything was possible then so I still have to look into it again. Just a question about IP's. From the outside (interwebz side) I should use the ISP (Mweb) IP as shown on the router if I am correct but from my local network I use the cam IP as configured?
Click to expand...

I also struggled with the port forwarding in the beginning until I used my 3g to connect from the internet side and realized that it was working all along. So I suggest you try something like that.
 
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