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Frequently Asked Questions - Static DNS

Static DNS Answers

Can I use your services for a server behind a cable/DSL router?

Yes. You'll have to set up port forwarding on your router; see your documentation for instructions. Then just point your hostname(s) at the router's external IP as normal, and it should handle sending the right traffic to your internal server. Please do not ask the support department to help you with your router-specific configuration, as we are unable to support third-party devices. If your router does not have a built-in client for our services, or if you're using the Custom DNS service, you may need a software update client.

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Why doesn't your system accept my mail exchanger?

MX records (which are what the mail exchanger option creates) cannot be IP addresses or DNS hostnames created using CNAME records. If you attempt to use either an IP address or a CNAME as a mail exchanger, the form will not accept the mx.

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How can I make www.myhostname.dyndns.org work?

You need to use the "Enable Wildcard" option, either in your client or in the web form. This will cause *.yourhostname.dyndns.org to point to the same IP address as yourhostname.dyndns.org.

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Can I have web requests go to a different port automatically?

Yes, but not with just DNS - you need to use our WebHop service, which allows you to enter a port as part of the redirected URL, so you could accomplish this for HTTP requests by setting up hophost.webhop.net to point to http://dynhost.dyndns.org:yourport/urlinfo/ (these hostnames are examples only, you can use your own names here).

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How long does my Static DNS host take to update (after an IP change)?

An update to your Static DNS host should propagate though the DNS system in no more than 4 or 5 hours.

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Why doesn't subdomain delegation work?

The DNS servers you list cannot be IP addresses. They must be valid hostnames (mydns.dyndns.org for instance). In addition, you must have the DNS server properly configured.

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Should I use a dynamic client with my Static DNS host?

You will need to use a client that supports Static DNS. A listing of clients that is available. Make sure you configure your client to work with Static DNS.

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Why can't people connect to my web server?

Double check to ensure that your HTTP server software is configured and running properly. If you're running any firewall software, make sure it's allowing inbound connections to port 80. Also, if you happen to be using a cable/DSL router, make sure you've set up port forwarding properly (consult your router's documentation for more information). If none of these seem to be the problem, it's also possible that your ISP is blocking inbound connections to port 80 - many ISPs have done this because of internet worms such as Code Red. If this is the case, you'll have to set up your HTTP server on an alternate port (such as 8080).

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My IP currently resolves to some name provided by my ISP. Can I change that to my dyndns.org host/domain?

No, this is not possible due to the nature of the DNS system and the way reverse DNS resolution works. If your IP is static or mostly static, you could ask your ISP to change your reverse DNS lookup, but there is nothing we can do to change it.

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I want to run a mail server, but my ISP has blocked port 25. Is there anything I can do?

Yes! You can use our MailHop Relay service to relay your mail to a mail server which you run on a different port, such as 2525 or 52525, which your ISP is not likely to have blocked.

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Can I have multiple hostnames/domains pointing to the same IP? Can they return different web sites?

Yes! You can have multiple hostnames/domains pointing to the same IP; if this IP is dynamic and you use an update client, make sure to configure your client to update all hostnames/domains.

The HTTP protocol (and most web servers) allows for different "virtual" web sites to be hosted on the same IP; for more information on how to set this up, consult your web server documentation. For protocols other than HTTP, then no matter what DNS name is entered, the same server will be reached. (So, for example, if you have yourhost1.dyndns.org and yourhost2.dyndns.org and run an FTP server, then no matter what name is entered, the same directories and files would be accessible)

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Can I use my own domain with your services?

Yes. Our Custom DNS service provides all the benefits and features of our Dynamic DNS service but for use with your own domain (eg: yourname.com or yourname.ca).

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What does an MX do?

MX stands for Mail eXchanger. Mail Exchangers are used for directing mail to specific servers other than the one a hostname points at, and are explained in more detail in the Mail, DNS, and Mail Exchangers whitepaper.

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Why does my wildcard setting disappear?

If you've enabled the wildcard option manually on the web form, and then update your hostname with a client, you must ensure that the enable wildcard option is also set in your client's configuration. If the client doesn't indicate that the wildcard should remain set, it may reset that setting.

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How can I determine my IP address if I'm behind a router or firewall?

Many update clients support the use of a special web page to determine your Internet IP address in this type of situation. A page we offer that provides that service is checkip.dyndns.org. Either http://checkip.dyndns.org/ or http://checkip.dyndns.org:8245/ can be used, the latter will help get around some proxy servers. We ask that you not check against this page more than once every 10 minutes. Anyone hitting it more frequently than that is liable to become blocked from using the checkip service. We provide no guarantees regarding the checkip service, and it should be used at your own risk.

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Why does my router say "DDNS Server Is Currently Closed" when I try to update my hostname?

Some devices have had reports of a non-functioning update client in their router which only say "DDNS Server Is Currently Closed". If that happens, you should disable your update client and seek a firmware update for your device. If you continue to have problems with your router, please report the problem to the manufacturer and use a software client.

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Can I get an SSL certificate for my Dynamic DNS/Static DNS host?

No. Due to the nature of our Dynamic DNS and Static DNS services, we are unable to make the certifications required of us regarding control of specific hostnames. As such, it is our policy to deny all SSL certificate requests for hosts in our Dynamic DNS and Static DNS domains. If you wish to have an SSL-secured web site, you can purchase your own domain name and use our Custom DNS service.

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