Many Dynamic DNS providers offer a selection of hostnames available for free use with their service. Upon registering, you will select a username and password, as well as a hostname that you will use as the DNS name (to allow external access to your machine using the hostname).
Here is a selection of these services (a full list is available at DMOZ and at Dynamic DNS): In order to use one of these Dynamic DNS services, registration is required first. That is, its database must always be updated to make sure your hostname always corresponds to your current IP address. The software utility then periodically checks for a change to the computer's IP address, and when a new IP address is discovered, it updates the Dynamic DNS database to reflect that change.ĭNS requires that a name server somewhere on the Internet keep track of 'where you are' (i.e. These Dynamic DNS services allow the user to choose a hostname and set an initial IP address to correspond to that hostname.
This is accomplished by using a small software utility on their computer or a local router. This makes it a challenge to translate a Name to one of these IP addresses.Ī number of DNS name servers offer a method to update the DNS database with dynamic IP name translations. These dynamic IP addresses are assigned by an ISP. However, many home users are assigned an IP address that changes more frequently. The DNS record for this node will only change infrequently. Most servers on the Internet have a fixed (static) IP address that never changes. a web browser) is then directed to one of these name servers. This database is implemented on the Internet by DNS name servers which keep track of DNS records and exchange this information between each other to maintain consistency. Name Translation is implemented via a distributed database known as the Domain Name System. Name Translation is the process of relating a name (like 'to an IP address (like '74.125.19.103') so that a website (or other service) on a computer can be accessed using an easily remembered name, rather than the IP address number of the computer.
Using a software utility to perform Dynamic DNS Updates.Registering with a Dynamic DNS provider.