We need to get a domain name so web surfers can type your web address into their web browser instead of typing in your IP address.
Create a domain name.
1. Go to http://www.dyndns.com
2. Click the “Create account” link at the top right hand corner
3. Enter a preferred username, your real email address (twice), your preferred password (twice), tick the Terms of Service and Acceptable Use Policy checkbox, click the “I will only create one (1) free account” checkbox, then click the Create Account button.
4. Check your email for the activation URL.
5. Activate your account.
6. Login to Dyndns with your new account.
7. In the My Services column, click the link that says “My Hosts”
8. Click the “Add New Hostname” link
9. In the textbox, type a name for your webhost.
10. From the drop-down list on the right, select one of the given domains. (This is how the diyws.ath.cx hostname was created.)
11. Tick the “Wildcard” checkbox.
12. Ensure the “Host with IP address” radio button is selected.
13. You will see your external web address listed in the “Use auto detected IP address w.x.y.z” link – click it to fill in the IP Address textbox.
14. Leave the Mail Routing checkbox unticked for now.
15. Click the Create Host button.
If your selected hostname is already taken, a warning message will appear. Enter another one, and click the Create Host button again.
If your new host has been created successfully, you should be returned to your “My Hosts” page.
Congratulations! You now “own” this domain name!
Dynamic DNS Client.
Since your Internet connection gives you a dynamic IP address each time you connect, we need a way to inform Dyndns.com that your IP address has changed. You need to download, install and run the dynamic DNS client software.
Click the yellow Support tab at the top of the page, and click the “Download Now” link for the Dyndns Updater software.
You will need to install this software on the computer that is hosting your new XAMPP installation – you don’t have to of course, but since the computer where you’ve installed XAMPP should be left on all the time, it makes sense to install it there.
If you don’t do this step, no-one will be able to type your new host name into their web browser and see your brand new, soon-to-be-made-available website because DNS won’t be updated to point the new name at your current IP address. Remember DNS? We learnt about that previously. See Lesson 3
After you’ve installed the Updater client software, click Start, click Programs, click Dyndns Updater, click Dyndns Updater Configuration.
Since this is the first time you’ve run this, it will prompt you to enter your Dyndns username and password. Enter these details now. The Updater should then contact the Dyndns website and refresh the list of hosts. You should see only one at this point – the one you created earlier.
That’s all you need to do – that was easy wasn’t it?
So now we have our new domain name.
Tomorrow, we’ll see how to edit the Apache configuration so that we can access our new web site using the new domain name, instead of simply “localhost”
Until then, ciao! (or go to Lesson 6 now)
can i just point out that dyndns no longer gives the option of the www. wildcard.
When i went to create a new domain, the wildcard checkbox is no longer there. So i assumed it would be automatically enabled and when i couldnt get my virtualhosts file to recognise a server alias with the www. prefix. I just figured it must have been something i did as i have other hostnames that still work fine. I fiddled around for ages before i found out yesterday in one of dyndns’s forums that they havnt supported it at least since the early part of this year. The other hostnames i have were configured before that change and still seem to work.
only thought id mention it to save anyone the same confusion i have had over the last few days
Hi Matt
Yes I remember seeing that option a long time ago.
I’ve added the ServerAlias to my vhosts file, but not restarted the server yet.
I’ll give it a go and see what happens.
Thanks for the heads-up!
Cheers
Brad
The writer of diyws.ath.cx has written a superior article. I got your point and there is nothing to argue about. It is like the following universal truth that you can not disagree with: The more beautiful, the more paranoid I will be back.
HI
The instructions are a bit dated – the wildcard option takes you to an offer screen where you can pay for 25 dyndns names that don’t expire after a mont, or something like that.
Also there is a bunch of selection buttons to set about how you want to use the domain name. Then you have to check out through the normal route -except no CC details etc or payment is collected.
Awesome work. I always find very unique posts here on your Blog.
I really appreacite free, succinct, reliable data like this.
After I downloaded Dynsdns updater and brought up Dynsdns configuration from the Start Menu, I typed in my username and password; it doesn’t show my current IP address in the configuration box.
Hi
Is the actual updater service running?
The configuration app is separate – from memory, you need to run the updater as a service.
Perhaps I missed a step in the instructions…
Surprisingly well-written and informative for a free online article.
Thanks!
Hi
Are you sure the actual updater service is running?
The configuration applet is separate from the actual updater.
Ensure that the Updater Settings shows that the Updater Status is set to On.
Then click the Refresh IP link and you should hopefully see your external IP address.
The configuration application is separate to the updater.
Are you sure the updater service is running? Check Control Panel | Services and edit the service so that it starts automatically when Windows starts – and start it right there too!
Then click the Refresh IP link in the configuration application – you should see your external IP address show up.
After I brought up the Dynsdns configuration box and typed my username and password, it didn’t show my IP address.
See above!
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Hi. I already have a commercial domain name that I bought from Crazy Domains and I would like to know how to hook it up for free to Dyndns. Thanks and keep up the good work.
Hi Techasist
Thanks for visiting!
I also have a commercial domain bought from Directnic, and the config for pointing that domain name to my Dyndns host is done via redirection.
Not sure of Crazy Domain’s set of tools, but in Directnic, their terminology is called redirecting, such that any request to your commercial domain name gets redirected (silently) to your Dyndns domain name.
“Whenever a user types your URL into their browser, they are automatically redirected to the URL you specified:”
Directnic also has an option to “frame” the redirected site, so your commercial domain name appears in the address bar of your visitors’ browser – so they’ll never know that they’re actually looking at content on your Dyndns host.
Have a look around the Crazy Domain tools, and see if they have something similar.
Cheers!
So much info in so few words. Tolosty could learn a lot.
Hi Veanna
Who’s Tolosty?
I suggest you to add a facebook like button!
Soon! Soon!
Aw, this was a really nice post. In idea I would like to put in writing like this additionally – taking time and actual effort to make a very good article… but what can I say… I procrastinate alot and by no means seem to get something done.
Hey Barbara
Thanks – yes, that happens a lot to me too.
Kids, this is how you write a post! Clear, concise and full of info. Would you happen, by chance, to teach how you craft your articles?
Hello!
1 question, i already have static IP and im hosting the site for closed group. so giving them the ip address instead of domain name is okay for me.
what is the configuration for that?
Hi Ash
That’s perfectly ok – if you’re using Apache, have a look at your conf file – it should specify the server address – just put your IP there.
If you want to host multiple sites on your static IP, you’ll need to get true domain name(s) (or even free one(s) from any of the dynamic ip providers) and then create multiple virtual hosts to take care of them.
Let me know if you run into difficulties.
Cheers
Brad