Hosting server without static IP

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#1 Mon, 03/10/2014 - 21:15
wattaman

Hosting server without static IP

I would like to create a mini-hosting server for my school's pupils, using one of the school's computers and the cheap internet connection it has. The ISP doesn't offer static IPs. Well, it does actually, but it costs more then 100$/month (this happens in Thailand). The problem is (probably) that I don't understand how dyndns works or how Virtualmin+Dyndns works.

To make my question short and easy to answer, please tell me whether I can do this or not using the dyndns service.

Other info: on the dyndns forums they say it is not possible because, if you want a server running, you should have a static IP offered by the ISP; they (dyndns) cannot do anything to make you dynamic IP into a static one. However, the Virtualmin option "Dynamic IP Update" writes this is "useful for servers that are connected to the Internet via a connection without a fixed IP address, such as ADSL or Cable". It also requires to enter the "Full hostname to update", besides the dyndns username/password. Is the hostname the one I can get on this page www.displaymyhostname.com? I don't know where to find it.

Thank you.

Tue, 03/11/2014 - 05:46
Locutus

You can do this for Web and Email using DynDNS, but it's quite a bit more complex to set up and involves lots of pitfalls.

You might also want to use an external nameservice to host your DNS zones, because running a nameserver on a dynamic IP is even more complex and prone to failures.

There are also several implications with email, e.g. your mail could be delivered to the wrong system during the time when the IP changes and your hostname hasn't been updated yet.

So in general, it's possible but not recommended to do this. It'd be much less hassle and much more stable to get a cheap VPS with some hosting provider and install Virtualmin there.

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