Setup my own DynDNS type service

P

Polemus

Expert Member
Joined
Aug 12, 2009
Messages
1,083
Reaction score
11
Location
Three Rivers, Gauteng
Hi There,

Is there any software out there that i can install on my Dedicated server that will allow me to offer a free DynDNS type service to fellow South Africans?

I am tired of struggling with numerous NO-IP acccounts to host all my developement environments, and if i can install some form of software on my Dedicated server, then i will also make it available to fellow SAFFERS :)

Any help would be appreciated.

... It would also be cool if there was some form of Web front-end, although, we can develop something like that if there aint :)

I am also prepared to install a VM if linux is the ONLY option, but please consider that the only thing i know about linux is it's spelling :)
 
Last edited:
There are many guides online to DIY DNS. Acquiring a proper hosting environment, sourcing an appropriate VPS or dedicated service will boost your throughput. Just note, DynDNS and everything behind their DNS are a massive service delivery pipeline, as are their competition.

Most guides will point you to Linux implementations, easy to understand the processes step-by-step.

EDIT:

Look through here,

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_DNS_server_software

and get guides on those you had investigated and shortlisted.
 
Last edited:
Polemus said:
I am tired of struggling with numerous NO-IP acccounts to host all my developement environments,
Click to expand...

Know the feeling, I had a Dynamic DNS account from Dlink which I got free with my Dlink Router.
But after a few months i had to respond to their survey to say I'm still using it, But never got round ding so,

They then closed the account (They could have just gone about checking if my router is still accessing my account)

My Solution to the issue was to place a PHP file on my Web Site hosted by afrihost, the PHP file saves the IP of the client that accesses the php file to an HTML file, then created a schedule on my home PC which will visit the PHP file every hour, so all i do is visit the HTML page that contains the IP , I then just copy Paste the IP in RDP client and connect.

Works for me, you could do the same, instead of writing the client IP to file you could find a command to create a c-name on your DNS server, Think Linux would be a better system to use for this.
 
Last edited:
Fulcrum29 said:
There are many guides online to DIY DNS. Acquiring a proper hosting environment, sourcing an appropriate VPS or dedicated service will boost your throughput. Just note, DynDNS and everything behind their DNS are a massive service delivery pipeline, as are their competition.

Most guides will point you to Linux implementations, easy to understand the processes step-by-step.
Click to expand...

Yeah, i have been doing some reading on it myself.

Server's is not the problem, we have that well covered. or so i hope :). We will not try to compete with anyone on this service delivery, it will be free to ALL south Africans service, cause i am tired of always having to pay a premium price for something in SA, when in actual fact the only costs for running the service is the initial development and the monthly server costs. If we cover Server costs and some devs help develop a solution (free of charge), then there is no reason why South Africans can't enjoy a free limitless DDNS service :)
 
1. Register domain (e.g. notanip.co.za).
2. Install your own DNS servers.
3. Point domain's NS records to your DNS servers' static IP's.
4. Automate the updating of A/AAAA records of sub-domains. That is, setting mysillysite.notanip.co.za's IP to 127.0.0.1.
5. Enable users to access above functionality. If you want to be really nice about it, make it accessible via a ReST API.

I am using a poor man's version for myself:
1. Registered domain.
2. Add host for my home PC under that domain on the registrar's DNS servers.
3. Run scheduled script on my home PC that checks if its current public IP is the same as that of the predefined host name. If it's not, it logs into the registrar's web-site and update the IP.
 
mister said:
We already do!

http://dynamicdns.geekabit.co.za/
Click to expand...

That is awesome, and i did come across it is a while ago.

It falls short in one place though, We want to enable the users to use their own domains.

If you see my post, the problem comes in with our various environments, and development frustrations.

I want this:

xxxxx.com
api.xxxxx.com
dev.xxxxx.com
dev.api.xxxxx.com
qa.xxxxx.com
qa.api.xxxxx.com


And although geekabit does support sub domains on the .geekabit.com dns service, i still do not see my domain anywhere.

I am also not sure how geekabit supports MX records.

But i have to say though, Thanx for the free ddns service, SA needs more people that is willing to give, rather than just take :)
 
Somewhat off topic but another option maybe.

I found No-IP a pain as well and went with DtDNS when DynDNS did away with their free accounts last year:

You may start with up to five hostnames free of charge. If you need more, you will be required to pay a one-time $5.00 account deposit, after which you may have as many hostnames as you like, within reason of course.
Click to expand...

... paid my 5 bucks and am very happy with the service, no spammy emails or account refreshing (don't know if that holds for the free accounts though). Coming up on a year with them now and if they ask for another $5.00 I'll happily pay it.

https://www.dtdns.com/dtsite/pricing
 
Polemus said:
Hi There,

Is there any software out there that i can install on my Dedicated server that will allow me to offer a free DynDNS type service to fellow South Africans?

I am tired of struggling with numerous NO-IP acccounts to host all my developement environments, and if i can install some form of software on my Dedicated server, then i will also make it available to fellow SAFFERS :)

Any help would be appreciated.

... It would also be cool if there was some form of Web front-end, although, we can develop something like that if there aint :)

I am also prepared to install a VM if linux is the ONLY option, but please consider that the only thing i know about linux is it's spelling :)
Click to expand...

Someone on here already did just that. Will find a link quick

http://mybroadband.co.za/vb/showthread.php/629797-Testers-Wanted-Netflix-DNS-Proxy
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top
Sign up to the MyBroadband newsletter
X