dydns vs registering a domain

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sir1963

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#269825 9-Apr-2020 14:57

I have used dydns for years so that I could get to a VPN server on my network.

This has been invaluable quite a few times.

However my subscription has run out and I am trying to figure out if it is worth updating (US$50/yr)

I now have a fixed IP for my fibre (CG-NAT killed dyndns) with 2Degrees.

I still need my VPN

I would like to run a small web server (I am running 2 OSX servers, so have Apache, etc) to document my computer collection (around 400 machines from the 1970's - 80s in various states of repair). I have my own DNS (we have over 50 networked things)

I own RapidWeaver 7+ Stacks + Platform and would create my site myself (learning opportunity)

All this can be achieved with dyndns, however I am wondering if I should get a "real" .nz domain, long term it will be cheaper

Anyone here doing this, running a server at home with their own domain

Any gotchas , hassles , costs (apart from the domain name) ?

I am by no means an expert , I know enough to be dangerous LOL, so any information would be much appreciated.

Any thoughts on registrars ?

TIA.

cyril7

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#2458444 9-Apr-2020 15:17

Hi $50 seems quite steep, I pay nothing for dyns.net and nothing for all my sites that use Mikrotik routers with a built in ddns solution, which you can then cname to a fixed domain.

As for a paid domain I use domains4less never had an issue with them and probably 50 plus domains.

.nz and co.nz domains run for around $25 so it's a no brainer.

Cyril

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SirHumphreyAppleby

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#2458450 9-Apr-2020 15:26

I would definitely go down the domain route (did so many years ago). Keep it simple, don't attempt to host your own DNS records for the domain. I did that with my first .net, and it was a bit of a pain.

I use dns.he.net for my domain DNS now. I believe they also provide dynamic DNS, but you need your own domain to use it. If you have a static IP, I wouldn't bother.

After seeing them recommended here, I use MetaName to buy domains. It's expensive, but the UI is simple. Quite frankly, I got sick of having to work out how to renew domains across a bunch of different providers and moving them to the cheapest provider, so I just moved everything to the easiest to use.

mdf

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#2458455 9-Apr-2020 15:30

DuckDNS is free. But dynamic DNS tools are a little bit moot if you have a static IP. Buy a domain name if you want to use words to phone home rather than an IP address. I use 1stdomains and it is all straightforward enough.

All the issues and gotchas are with self-hosting services and making sure your home network is secure if you're opening it up to the world - this is secure enough using a decent VPN, but a web server is another issue. @michaelmurfy tried to help me with a VPM alternative using reverse proxies and Cloudflare origin certificates but that got a bit hard for me.

michaelmurfy

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#2458463 9-Apr-2020 15:36

You can also use Cloudflare to do this - https://support.cloudflare.com/hc/en-us/articles/360020524512-Manage-dynamic-IPs-in-Cloudflare-DNS-programmatically

Basically add your site in there, use the Cloudflare API as per the above guide to update your endpoint. But as you've got a static IP just set an A record to it and job done. Not like it is going to change :)

Michael Murphy | https://murfy.nz
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richms

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#2458480 9-Apr-2020 15:54

A lot of places have internet security appliances that block dynamic DNS names since they are so often used for malware being free and all that, so I would never count on being able to get to one from other networks when I am not at home.

Richard rich.ms

chevrolux

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#2458508 9-Apr-2020 16:17

Cool kids get their own domain 😀

Head over to Metaname and get one registered (no affiliation, they are just good). There is no sense mucking around with dynamic DNS if you have a static IP.

sir1963

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#2458608 9-Apr-2020 18:56

SirHumphreyAppleby:

I would definitely go down the domain route (did so many years ago). Keep it simple, don't attempt to host your own DNS records for the domain. I did that with my first .net, and it was a bit of a pain.

I use dns.he.net for my domain DNS now. I believe they also provide dynamic DNS, but you need your own domain to use it. If you have a static IP, I wouldn't bother.

After seeing them recommended here, I use MetaName to buy domains. It's expensive, but the UI is simple. Quite frankly, I got sick of having to work out how to renew domains across a bunch of different providers and moving them to the cheapest provider, so I just moved everything to the easiest to use.

Went down this route.

Took a few hours to change server settings to reflect my new domain , but now I am more independent from anyone and their policy changes.

Default web page shows, so now I have to start building something proper

VPN works

Local services work, so all is good.

It was much easier than I had expected, should have done this years ago.

Thanks

fe31nz

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#2458694 9-Apr-2020 22:59

I have had my own domain since very shortly after I first got a 128 kbit/s ADSL connection and have always run my own servers (email, web, OpenVPN, ...) since then. I prefer to have full control, although it does mean I have to do a bit more work maintaining and updating things. I have static IPv4 and IPv6 addresses.

Since you have a static IP address, you could just get a .nz domain and register it with Metaname. At no extra cost, you can then put your DNS on Metaname as well. They do not handle dynamic IP addresses specifically, but if you wanted to handle that, they have an API and a script that will update your DNS via that API is available. You could use that whenever your IP address changed to update your DNS. I have had my domain registered through Metaname for a few years now, and when Oracle's takeover of dyn.com stops dyn.com's free DNS service for me at the end of May, I will be moving my DNS to them as well. I plan on using their API so that I can automate my Let's Encrypt wildcard certificate updating. Metaname has a test site for DNS so you can try out the setup before you actually move your DNS there from dydns.

Metaname are in the "good" category rather than the "cheap" category of NZ domain registrars. That does not mean they are horribly expensive, rather that they are not rock-bottom cheap. A .nz domain with them costs $25 per year. The rock-bottom cheap registrars are to be avoided, and I also avoid non-NZ based registrars.

https://metaname.net