Dynamic DNS (DDNS)
Dynamic DNS (DDNS) — Dynamic DNS (DDNS) is a DNS service that assigns a permanent domain name to a device with a dynamic IP address.
How DDNS works
When you connect to the Internet, your ISP usually assigns you a dynamic IP address that can change over time. When you use DDNS, you have a special client that tells the DDNS server your current IP address.
The DDNS server, in its turn, updates the corresponding record in the Domain Name System (DNS) to associate your permanent domain address with your current IP address. This way, when you enter the domain name of a website, your computer or device can use the current IP address to connect to the correct server or device.
When DDNS is of use
- Home Network Access: if you have a network attached storage (NAS), video surveillance system, or smart home server at home, DDNS allows you to access them from the Internet using a permanent domain address, despite changes in the IP address assigned to you by your ISP
- Hosting your own web server: if you host your own web server on your home server, DDNS allows you to use a persistent domain name to access these services, even with a dynamic IP address.
- Remote device management: DDNS allows you to manage routers, Wi-Fi access points or video surveillance from any device, as long as the host has a dynamic IP.