We want to create a data server or a Web server reachable from the outside (when we are away from home) with our home line "> Connect to your home PC from anywhere with dynamic DNS How a Dynamic DNS service works
A Dynamic DNS service (or DDNS) offers the possibility to create a hostname at will (a particular Web address created by you) and to associate it with your dynamic IP address; when the latter changes (due to a blackout or because you restarted the modem) the service will update the associated address automatically, so as to make our site (or server) always reachable from the outside.
Particularly useful if we have an ADSL or fiber optic line with dynamic IP, it can also be used by users with static IP to avoid having to remember the IP address, since it is much easier to remember the name of a site than a sequence of numbers followed by a dot.
There are various DDNS services available, many of which are paid and reserved for companies and professionals, but in the home environment we can use the No-IP service without any problems, free for personal use with the possibility of creating up to 3 hostnames; the only limitation of the free version of No-IP is having to confirm the activation of the created hostnames every 30 days, otherwise they are canceled (it will be sufficient to carry out a check every 30 days, via the link sent via email).
Nothing insurmountable, considering the quality of the service offered for free.
How to configure No-IP
Now that we know how a DDNS service works, let's find out in this part of the guide how to configure the free No-IP service, so as to make our data server or Web server always reachable with any network condition.
The service can be reached from here -> No-IP .
If we are not yet registered for the service, click on Subscribe at the top right.
On the page that opens we will be asked for a valid email address (we use a real address not a temporary address), a login password and the name for a starting hostname.
For the hostname there are various free domains offered by the service, we choose the one we like best (I recommend ddns.net because it is easy to remember).
Don't worry about the hostname chosen, you can remove it or change it later (if you don't want to choose anything, tick the Create my hostname later item to postpone the creation of a hostname only after registration).
Below we will be asked which service to activate: if we want to take advantage of the three free hostnames, simply click on Free Sign Up as soon as you have filled in all the required fields.
Now we can access the service management screen, going to the home of No-IP and clicking on the Login item at the top right.
The service control screen will be similar to the one shown in the image below.
All the controls are at hand: at the top we can see how many hostnames we have created and which we have recently renewed; on the right side a counter shows how many hostnames we can still create, while in the central part we can add new sites quickly by choosing the name of the site and the domain.
To check the hostnames created just click on Active Hostname.
We will see the active hostnames appear, with the expiration date (remember to renew them manually every 30 days) and the associated IP.
We can change the characteristics of the hostname by clicking on the Edit button, while we can remove them by clicking on the X-shaped symbol next to each hostname.
How does No-IP recover Dynamic IP "> No-IP's Dynamic Update Client .
We download and install this program, then start it to find ourselves in the login screen, where it will be sufficient to enter the login credentials to the No-IP service to proceed.
Enter your credentials, the program will ask us for which hostname to keep the IP updated among those created by us; select the correct one for our server and wait for the client to start.
Now the client control window will appear, which will show us all the data synchronized with No-IP and, if necessary, will update the dynamic IP address if the latter changes.
For maximum effectiveness, make sure the program is auto-starting along with Windows.
Other DDNS services
No-IP is without a doubt the best service to be able to access your own server at any time even when we have a line with dynamic IP, but there are many other similar services.
Below you will find the list of similar services that you can try instead of No-IP.
- FreeDNS
- Duck DNS
- DynuDNS
- Namecoin
- DUIADNS
All the services we have reported offer free accounts, so you can manage your hostname as you like best.
