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What is Dynamic DNS (DDNS)?

Written By dfd on Saturday, November 1, 2014 | 10:41 AM

Dynamic DNS (DDNS) is an addition to the DNS standard. Dynamic DNS updates a DNS server with new or changed records for IP addresses without the need for human intervention. This allows a fully qualified domain name (FQDN) that never changes to be associated with a dynamically assigned IP address that can change quite often.
For example, suppose you want to name your computer DarthVader.ads.iu.edu but are required to use DHCP. Even if you enter DarthVader in the "Computer Name" field of your computer properties, DNS servers anywhere would know you only by the FQDN associated with the IP address you're assigned. At Indiana University, if DHCP gives you an IP address of 156.56.0.1, your computer's Internet name would not be DarthVader.ads.iu.edu, but 156-56-0-1.dhcp-bl.indiana.edu. However, if you use DDNS, your computer's IP address will be properly associated withDarthVader.ads.iu.edu.
At IU, DDNS works for Windows 8.x, 7, Vista, and the server versions of each (2008, 2003, 2003). It will not work for the Home editions of Windows 8.x, 7, Vista, or non-Windows operating systems, such as Mac OS XLinux, or BSD. If your operating system is not supported, or if you cannot join the ADS domain, you can use a third-party DDNS service, such as Dynamic Network Services, Inc. or PlanetDNS. For a comprehensive list of DDNS providers, see DNS Lookup's Dynamic DNS Providers List. UITS does not recommend or endorse any third-party DDNS service.
Although DDNS is an official addition to the DNS standard, not all ISPs refresh their own DNS servers' data often enough to reflect daily changes, so some users may still run into trouble accessing your DDNS-configured FQDN. This is not the fault of your DDNS service provider, but a problem caused by the ISP not updating its DNS tables quickly enough.