2 dynamic dns – NEXCOM IFA 1610 User Manual

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IFA 3610/IFA 2610/IFA 1610 User Manual

Chapter 4: The Services Menu

4.2 Dynamic DNS

A DNS server provides a service that allows to resolve the (numeric) IP address of a host, given its hostname, and vice

versa, and works perfectly for hosts with fixed IP address and hostname.

DDNS providers, like DynDNS or no-IP, offer a similar service when the IP addresses is dynamic, which is normally the case

when using residential ADSL connections: Any domain name can be registered and associated to a server with a dynamic

IP address, which communicates any IP address change to the DDNS provider. To be compatible and to integrate with the

root DNS servers, each time IP address changes, the update must then be actively propagated from the DDNS provider.

The appliance includes a dynamic DNS client for 14 different providers and if enabled, it will automatically connect to the

dynamic DNS provider to communicate the new IP address whenever it changes.

Note:

If no dynamic DNS account has been set up, detailed instruction to register a new one, detailed online helps and

how tos are available on the web site of the providers.

This page displays the list of the Dynamic DNS accounts. Indeed, more than one DDNS provider can be used. For

each account, the list shows information about the service used, the hostname and domain name registered, if the

anonymous proxy and the wildcards are active, if it is enabled, and the possible actions:

▪ - toggle the status of the lease, enabled or disabled.

▪ - modify the property of the lease.

▪ - remove the lease.

New accounts can be created by clicking on the Add a host link, providing the following parameters:

Service

The drop-down menu shows the available DDNS providers.

Behind a proxy

This option only applies to the no-ip.com provider. The checkbox must be ticked if the appliance is connecting to the

Internet through a proxy.

Enable wildcards

Some dynamic DNS providers allow all the sub-domains of a domain point to the same IP address. This is a situation

in which two hosts like www.example.myddns.org and second.example.myddns.org are both located on the same IP

address. Ticking this box enables the feature, making all the possible sub-domains redirect on the same IP address. The

feature must be configured also in the account on the DDNS provider server, if available.

Hostname and Domain

The hostname and domain as registered with the DDNS provider, for instance “example” and “myddns.org”

Username and Password

The credentials given from dynamic DNS provider to access the service.

Behind Router (NAT)

Activate this option if the appliance is not directly connected to the Internet, i.e., there is another router or gateway

before accessing the Internet. In this case, the service at http://checkip.dyndns.org can be used to find the IP address of

the router.

Enabled

Tick this checkbox to enable the account, which is the default.

Note:

It is still necessary to export a service to the RED zone to be able to use the domain name to connect to the

appliance from the Internet using its dynamic IP address, since the dynamic DNS provider only resolves the domain name

and not the associated services. Exporting a service might typically involve setting up port forwarding (see Menubar

►

Firewall

► Port forwarding / NAT).

After making a change in the configuration or to immediately update the dynamic DNS for all the defined accounts, click

on the Force update button. This proves useful for example when the uplink has been disconnected and the REDIP has

changed: When this happens, updating all the DDNS accounts is required, otherwise the services offered via DDNS will

be unreachable.

This manual is related to the following products:

IFA 2610 IFA 3610