Frequently Asked Questions

    Dynamic IP Questions:

  1. Why do I need Dynamic IP Addresses?
  2. How do I get started?
  3. Is there a client available for Windows/Mac/Unix?
  4. What is dynamic DNS?
  5. How should I report errors?
  6. Where can I get PERL for Windows?
  7. How does the dynamic ip program work?
  8. How do I set up an MX record? Do you support them?
  9. How can I do dynamic DNS for mutliple, load-sharing IP's?
  10. How do I config ZoneEdit with my firewall/router?

    11. Dynamic IP Software & Specs:

  11. What are the specs of the dynamic update request?
  1. Why do I need Dynamic IP Addresses?

    Instead of using free web hosting services, you can run your own web server at home on an ordinary PC. However, if you have a dial-up connection, DSL line, or cable modem, then your IP address keeps changing every time you connect. ZoneEdit.Com Dynamic DNS allows your home web server/pc to have a permanent address on the internet. You can buy a domain name from anyone, and then use ZoneEdit to keep the domain name pointing at your web server.

    Most web servers are simple and efficient, and won't slow down your machine. Our favorites are Apache for flexibility and Microsoft Personal Web Server for ease of use.

    Running a web site at home can get complicated, depending on your ISP. One site which is full of resources and forums for helping people get started running web sites from home is the Dsl/Cable Webserver site.

  2. How do I get started?

       -     sign up for a free DNS account (see our regular FAQ)
       - add your domain name to our system
       - add the current IP Address (A) record of your machine to your ZoneEdit control panel
       - download one of the dynamic dns clients that supports zoneedit
       - configure the client you downloaded to update zoneedit (hint: Setting the "zones" is usually the only parameter necessary)

    For a more detailed look, dslwebserver.com has put together a step by step manual on how to use ZoneEdit

  3. Is there a client available for Windows/Mac/Unix?

    Remember, you must have a ZoneEdit account for these clients to work. Also, it's important to add your current IP Address (A) to your zone before using Dynamic DNS Some clients that work best on specific O/S's, and others that work cross-platform.

    Windows Clients:

    Macintosh Clients:

    UNIX Clients:

    • DDClient 3.0 is a Perl client used to update dynamic DNS entries for accounts on many dynamic DNS services. You can get it here: http://ddclient.sourceforge.net/.
    • IPCheck has built in support for popular CABLE/DSL NAT routers. It works on OS/2 as well as most Unix's. Source code & documentation is here: http://zoneclient.sourceforge.net/. Python is required.
    • From one of our customers: It's very easy to update the dynamic zoneedit entries on UNIX with either of these two command lines (if you have wget or lynx installed):

      lynx -source -auth=username:password 'http://dynamic.zoneedit.com/auth/dynamic.html?host=www.mydomain.com'

      wget -O - --http-user=username --http-passwd=password 'http://dynamic.zoneedit.com/auth/dynamic.html?host=www.mydomain.com'

      PPP users should place one of the above commands (or a perl client) in the file /etc/ppp/ip-up or /etc/ppp/ppp.linkup, which are called whenever a ppp connection is made.

      Users of dhcpcd may place these commands in the file /etc/dhcpc/dhcpcd-eth0.exe or /etc/dhcpc/dhcpcd-eth1.exe which are executed whenever a new dynamic IP address is acquired.

    Other/Cross-Platform:

  4. What is Dynamic DNS?

    Dynamic DNS allows machines with IP addresses that change to have permanent addresses on the internet. You can buy a domain name anywhere, and then use ZoneEdit's dynamic DNS solution to point that domain name to your machine. Before dynamic DNS you had to have a fixed IP to run a web server. Now you can run a web server with a cable modem, DSL line or even on a dial up.

  5. How should I report errors in the BETA?

    Please send everything in the zedynip folder (the source code, log file and the txt file), to dynip@zoneedit.com with a clear description of the error, the platform you are on, the ISP you are using, and your zoneedit account id.

  6. Where can I get PERL for Windows?

    Although you can get a version from Microsoft, don't use it: it's very buggy and crashes often. ActiveState makes the best version we know about.

  7. How does the dynamic ip program work?

    The program:
       - detects an ip change on your computer
       - hits a web page http://dynamic.zoneedit.com/auth/dynamic.html?host=www.zone1.com,www.zone2.com...etc.
       - the dynamic.html page detects the IP that the request came in on and updates the zone(s)
       - the dynamic.html page also lowers the TTL for the zone(s) so that updates propagate quickly

  8. How do I set up an MX record? Do you support them?

    Yes! ZoneEdit fully supports MX records and gives you far more control over your domain name than other dynamic DNS providers. You can log in to your control panel and set the MX record to point to any host on your network, even a dynamic host.

    In addition, ZoneEdit offers backup email services designed to ensure email continuity during ip changeovers on dynamic DNS systems.

    The control panel also gives you the ability to add CNAME's, Mail and web forwarding and more. It's not "just" dynamic dns!

  9. How can I do dynamic DNS for round-robin A records?

    If you need dynamic DNS for a host which has multiple IP addresses (round-robin load sharing), then you must first find the internal ID for each address by doing a "view source" on the "IP Addresses" screen.

    You can then select which address you're updating by specifying the ID number in the update URL, as in this example:

    http://dynamic.zoneedit.com/auth/dynamic.html?host=dyn.burtonsys.com&dnsto=66.57.10.189&id=1076342

    For maximum reliability, you should also configure website monitoring and failover service. This service will pull nonworking IP's from your cluster, allowing for greater reliability. Click here for more information.

  10. How do I config ZoneEdit with my firewall/router?

    Many Cable/DSL routers and firewalls use NAT to hide your machine's IP from the internet.

    Dynamic DNS software can detect this, and/or have a special option of "getting the current IP from a web page". This URL returns your machines current IP: http://dynamic.zoneedit.com/checkip.html You can use it in your dynamic DNS software config.

    Some routers purportedly have builtin support, and others can be modified to support it. This is preferable, since it doesn't require "polling".

    To suggest a link for this section: send to dynamicfaq@zoneedit.com.

  11. What are the specs of the dynamic update request?

    Simply make a standard HTTP request:
       - URL: http://dynamic.zoneedit.com/auth/dynamic.html
       - REQUIRES BASIC AUTHENTICATION
       - REQUIRES PARAM: -> 'host' contains a comma-delimited list of hosts that have IP addresses. This parameter may be *.domain.com to update a wildcard A-record.
       - OPTIONAL PARAM: 'dnsto' -> change to the IP specified instead of the client IP. This parameter may be 0.0.0.0 to force the domain offline.
       - OPTIONAL SSL: https (SSL) may be used for added security, if needed.
       - OPTIONAL PARAM: 'park=1' -> directs the hosts to the zoneedit parking server - and parks the domain with a default 'Be Right Back' page.
       - EXAMPLE: http://dynamic.zoneedit.com/auth/dynamic.html?zones=myzone.com
       - EXAMPLE: http://dynamic.zoneedit.com/auth/dynamic.html?host=mail.myzone.com&dnsto=1.2.3.4

    The response page returns the following information:
       - <ERROR CODE="[701-799]" TEXT="Description of the error" ZONE="Zone that Failed">
       - <SUCCESS CODE="[200-201]" TEXT="Description of the success" ZONE="Zone that Succeeded">

    Failure by the server to respond should be considered as "Error code 700, failed to respond for ALL zones".

    More info/etc can be found here.