Dynamic DNS
Dynamic DNS on a domain you own.
Keep a memorable hostname pointed at home, office, or lab infrastructure even when your IP changes. No Static IP? No Problem™
What Dynamic DNS does
Most home and small-office connections get a residential IP that changes without warning. Dynamic DNS (DDNS) keeps a hostname on your own domain updated to your current IP — so your NAS, camera system, VPN, game server, or PBX stays reachable by name.
Three steps to set it up
1. Create a DYN record
Mark the hostname you want to keep updated as a Dynamic DNS record in your zone.
2. Generate a token
Create a per-domain Dynamic DNS token. Use it for updates instead of your account password.
3. Configure an updater
Point your router, NAS, or a DDNS client at ZoneEdit so it sends updates automatically.
Use the per-domain Dynamic DNS token, never your account password, in device configuration. Prefer HTTPS for updates so credentials are not sent in the clear.
Works with your gear
Routers & firewalls
OpenWrt, pfSense, OPNsense, DD-WRT, FreshTomato.
NAS & servers
Synology, TrueNAS, Docker DDNS-Updater, Linux / Raspberry Pi.
DDNS clients
ddclient (native zoneedit1 protocol), In-a-dyn.
Custom HTTP
Any device that can call a custom update URL.
Update endpoint reference
cURL:
curl --get \
--user 'ZONEEDIT_USERNAME:DYN_AUTH_TOKEN' \
--data-urlencode 'hostname=home.example.com' \
--data-urlencode 'myip=203.0.113.10' \
'https://api.cp.zoneedit.com/dyn/generic.php'IPv4 / IPv6: see the Dynamic DNS guide in our knowledgebase.
Troubleshooting
Updates rejected (authentication)
Confirm you are using the Dynamic DNS token for the correct hostname, not the account password.
Hostname not updating / stale IP
Check the updater is running and that only one updater is responsible for the hostname. Duplicate updaters can fight each other.
Private or CGNAT address
If your ISP uses CGNAT, the IP your device sees is shared and not publicly reachable — updates succeed, but inbound connections can’t reach you on that address. Publish your IPv6 address as an AAAA record in the DNS manager, or use a reverse tunnel such as tunnel.to.
Changes slow to take effect
Lower the record TTL; resolvers cache the previous value until it expires.
Point your domain home
Set up Dynamic DNS on a domain you own.