Get Free Dynamic DNS with noip.com

What is Dynamic DNS

Dynamic DNS is a fancy way of describing the automated updating of an IP address mapped to a hostname. I’m going to gloss over the DNS details, but the general Idea is that DNS allows us to type a hostname to connect to a server instead of typing in numbers. With servers on the internet that have static public IP addresses, this system works great, but what if you wanted to give your home router a DNS record. Setting up a DNS record isn’t very complicated, but unless you’re paying for a static IP address, your ISP is probably going to change it. Most likely the next time your router reboots, but it can happen more or less frequently than that and you have no control over it. The solution is Dynamic DNS.

Different Dynamic DNS options

Some routers have Dynamic DNS built. If you have NAS, there might be a Dynamic DNS app that you can use. Cloudflare has an API, so if you have your own domain, you can write a script to update your DNS record.

We’re going to be using noip.com

Using noip.com

Signup for free Dynamic DNS

Click the verification link in the email they send and see your new hostname under DDNS & Remote Access.

Install the client on your computer

Sign into the client

Select the hostname you setup earlier

That’s it. Every few minutes this client will update noip.com DNS servers so your hostname will always point to your current IP.

If you want to register your own domain name for a customized look or use any of the other paid features from noip.com, use my referral link and enter REFER20 as a coupon code.