I am setting up a server that I want to be able to access outside of my network. I am leasing a router and contacted my ISP to get the username/password, and they said I need a static IP for this to work. However, in the past, I used a dynamic DNS. They said that will not work, and I still need a static IP.
Is this correct?
Dynamic DNS will work fine.
Let me guess, they’ll gladly sell you a static IP? Don’t see why it would not work with a dynamic IP.
Is your ISP using CGNAT? If so, what they told you is likely correct. If you have a standard route-able IP address, you can just use DDNS as has been mentioned in several other replies…
To be fair, if you were actually using this in a way that you want zero downtime, then yes, a static IP would be desirable, because it does take time for a DNS update to happen worldwide (its usually not long, but minutes can matter in a business). ISP’s are more familiar with that situation, and its a nice upsell too.
But for home use, where you and maybe a couple people use it? Nah, DDNS is good enough. IPs usually don’t change that often to be annoying.
DDNS will be fine, next!
Depends on the isp. A lot of them have run out of IPs and many residential customers are behind CGnat.
Why do you need to login to your isp gateway? Port forwarding?
What kind of ISP? You could be NATed. Run an mtr to google and see what ya find.
I’m so jealous, my ISP won’t give me a static IP for less than $30/mo on top of my $80/mo bill
Like most of the people told if your ip is translated on cgnat device, no connections can be established unless you start traffic from inside. If you don’t wanna buy static ip, you can set up vpn server anywhere in the internet, and connect your home server from this server.
DynDNS is a way to circumvent the need of a static IP.
But as others mentioned there might be other hindrances like
- ToS Violation (ISP doesn´t allow server at all, or only with the right plan)
- inbound firewall by ISP (old best practice was to block TCP/25 inbound to prevent Spam-Relays)
- CG-NAT (where you don´t get a “real” public IP on your CPE)
only number two can be solved by technical means, depending on which service you want to host at your server…
A ddns will work just fine, just make sure the router is configurable and scummy isp isn’t blocking the ports (happend to me before, 3rd world isp)
Assuming you’re not behind CGNAT and they actually meant they’ll sell you a publicly addressable IP, dynamic DNS will be fine. You could use your public IP without tying it to a domain name if you wanted to, there’s just no guarantee it won’t suddenly change on you (that’s what the dynamic DNS is for). But if you don’t actually have a public IP, it won’t help you.
It could also be that they were trying to make an easy buck off you. Wouldn’t be surprising.
Yes, generally to get to your server from another location you need to know how to get to your destination.
Imagine if you randomly changed apartment numbers every time you left the building…
Every time your modem disconnects/reconnects from your ISP it is assigned an IP. Often the IP will be the same as the previous 42 times, however if another device in your area connects while your modem is offline you may lose your assignment and get a different IP.
There are software options, TeamViewer for a familiar example. The computer is registered on TeamViewer’s network and even if your IP changes you have access in to your server using another TeamViewer client with the correct credentials.
If you don’t have frequent drops, you could certainly try it for a while using the current IP assignment, or perhaps set up a script to have the computer email you your current public IP daily.
go to ipchicken.com (or monkey, whatever you prefer).
Open up a port in your firewall. See if you can connect to the IP from ipchicken
No thats incorrect. DDNS will work fine.
The level 1 technical support at ISP’s dont know shit. They’re only expected to know the bare minimum of how to power cycle or reprovision a modem. Outside of that, I wouldnt take their word on anything else
Only if you have a real public IP address. CGNAT is a thing. An awful, awful thing.
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$25 ÷ 5 IPs = $5 per fixed IP
I don’t know what CGNAT means. Is that used for fiber internet? Because I have fiber.