Configuring Dynamic DNS (If Needed)

Dynamic DNS (DDNS) is an Internet service that allows routers with varying public IP addresses to be located using Internet domain names. To use DDNS, you must setup an account with a DDNS provider such as DynDNS.org, TZO.com or Iego.net. (Links to DynDNS, TZO and Iego are provided for your convenience on the Dynamic DNS Configuration screen.) The VPN firewall firmware includes software that notifies dynamic DNS servers of changes in the WAN IP address, so that the services running on this network can be accessed by others on the Internet.

If your network has a permanently assigned IP address, you can register a domain name and have that name linked with your IP address by public Domain Name Servers (DNS). However, if your Internet account uses a dynamically assigned IP address, you will not know in advance what your IP address will be, and the address can change frequently-hence, the need for a commercial DDNS service, which allows you to register an extension to its domain, and restores DNS requests for the resulting FQDN to your frequently-changing IP address.

After you have configured your account information in the firewall, whenever your ISP-assigned IP address changes, your firewall will automatically contact your DDNS service provider, log in to your account, and register your new IP address.

For auto-rollover mode, you will need a fully qualified domain name (FQDN) to implement features such as exposed hosts and virtual private networks regardless of whether you have a fixed or dynamic IP address.

For load balancing mode, you may still need a fully qualified domain name (FQDN) either for convenience or if you have a dynamic IP address.


	Note: If your ISP assigns a private WAN IP address such as 192.168.x.x or 10.x.x.x, the dynamic DNS service will not work because private addresses will not be routed on the Internet.

Select Network Configuration from the primary menu and Dynamic DNS from the sub-menu. The Dynamic DNS Configuration screen will display.

The WAN Mode section displays the currently configured WAN mode (for example, Single Port WAN1, Load Balancing or Auto Rollover). Only those options that match the configured WAN Mode will be accessible.

Figure 2-7

Check the Dynamic DNS Service radio box you want to enable. The fields corresponding to the selection you have chosen will be highlighted. Each DNS service provider requires its own parameters.

Access the Web site of one of the DDNS service providers and set up an account. A link to each DDNS provider is opposite the DNS Configuration screen name.

After setting up your account, return to the Dynamic DNS Configuration screen and fill in the required fields for the DDNS service you selected:

In the Host and Domain Name field, enter the entire FQDN name that your dynamic DNS service provider gave you (for example: <yourname>.dyndns.org).

Enter the User Name, User email Address, or Account Name requested by the DDNS Service to identify you when logging into your DDNS account.

Enter the Password, or User Key, for your DDNS account.

If your dynamic DNS provider allows the use of wild cards in resolving your URL, you may check the Use wildcards radio box to activate this feature.

For example, the wildcard feature will cause *.yourhost.dyndns.org to be aliased to the same IP address as yourhost.dyndns.org

Click Apply to save your configuration.

Click Reset to return to the previous settings.