Question Free DDNS provider for top-level domain ?

Jan 8, 2024
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Hi there!

I am looking for a DDNS provider that supports top-level domains.

My current ISP offers me a dynamic IP for the Fibre connection I have but I need a static one or DDNS to work with. They charge extra about 30Euro a month and that is not within my budget for a home setup/startup.

I already have a domain in the form of: https://www.myowndomain.gr for the Greek region that I've registered it. However I have not found a single DDNS provider that supports via a soft client or otherwise that will allow me to use my own .gr domain. I do not want it to be like https://www.myowndomain.dynu.com.gr or whatever https://www.myowndomain.blabla.gr no-ip...... etc.

Does anyone know of a good alternative or method to accomplish this?

I have a website and two NAS devices behind my firewall (it supports some DDNS providers but none that work on top level domain and specifically for .gr domains. My website on my e.g. DMZ is on a Raspberry Pi and was looking to have the e.g client (or other method) installed on it too.

The two NAS devices are located on another subnet/zone and I can access them via the web app and mob apps or even VPN (if the IP does not change....) for specific works. I can route pretty much everything.

Any advise on that trouble would be much appreciated as I need the top-level domain functionality with DDNS.

Best Regards!
 
This probably will work.

https://github.com/favonia/cloudflare-ddns

Need to use Docker though.

Also search Youtube for Cloudflare DDNS for more info/tutorials.

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https://community.cloudflare.com/t/does-cloudflare-provide-hosting/84490
"You need to have your nameservers point to Cloudflare in order to use the service"

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Thank you Lantis3,

I created a Cloudflare last night and it seem from their dashboard that it works. However I have no idea about the API instructions and how to do them in a junior step by step guide.... Quite new to this area with APIs and how to integrate them with Pointer.gr (my Domain Register in Greece) > (Cloudflare for their DDNS service among others) > and my Wordpress Website that is accessible from within my LAN/DMZ but not from outside.

I am in between all of them and more and reading as much as I can while trying a way to find to publish it....
 
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I have 2 NAS HW. A NetGear with 4 Bays, and a 2 bay WD. Both offer some features. But / or / because I am logging in remotely to them via e.g. VPN i am looking for a solution to have my primary TLD with a dynamic IP that changes every week.... to short this out.

Hence my enqury on how to build / script that API on Cloudflare and my GR registrar to point and update this.


I am still in the search. A step by step guide on know to do this...
 
You have to transfer you domain's DNS registration

Just noticed that you have a Raspberry Pi. Guess you have Raspberry Pi OS installed? Then you should be able to install Docker on the Pi.

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Raspberry+Pi+Docker

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Shell script only, not using Docker
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rI-XxnyWFnM
 
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You have to transfer you domain's DNS registration

Just noticed that you have a Raspberry Pi. Guess you have Raspberry Pi OS installed? Then you should be able to install Docker on the Pi.

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Raspberry+Pi+Docker

==

Shell script only, not using Docker
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rI-XxnyWFnM
This looks promising. I will try out within the next hours/day and will revert back. Thanks lantis3!
 
Hi all,

This looks promising. I will try out within the next hours/day and will revert back. Thanks lantis3!
installed the Raspberry Pi script and have it linked with my Cloudflare. The Cloudflare seems to recognize it, but I am facing two issues:

a) if I change on my domain/dns provider (pointer.gr) e.g. for example an A record or whatever CNAME, MX etc.. they require an IP, which obviously since I have a dynamic one, the provider does not update this, nor do they have a script tool to do that.

b) therefore also on Cloudflare I see that same IP from the provider. Even if I change manually the IP on any address, Cloudflare will not update and remain the same.

I followed the instructions and still it does not seem to work. It seems that both parties (DNS/Domain provider and Cloudflare script) do not work as expected.

Any ideas on that? I have also a ticket opened with the provider for start.

Should I test the docker option in the meantime or would it be useless since the provider does not update my actual real dynamic IP ever?

Kind Regards and thank you for any advise.

PS: greetings from Greece 😛
 
You don't change any other records other than NS records on pointer.gr. That's the job of Cloudflare DDNS once you move there.

Your registrar pointer.gr must let you change your domain's NS records (at least 2, some offer more) . If they can let you change NS records, then you don't have to pay extra. If they won't let you change NS records, then you have to move to Cloudflare.

Unfortunately, did not see .gr as TLDs, contact Cloudflare see if .gr is OK for them.
If not, why not get a .com domain? It cost only USD $9.15 a year.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M-wxorxYVNs

OK, even pointer.gr use Cloudflare DNS nameserver

Emt2zhs.png
 
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Your registrar pointer.gr must let you change your domain's NS records (at least 2, some offer more) . If they can let you change NS records, then you don't have to pay extra. If they won't let you change NS records, then you have to move to Cloudflare.

Unfortunately, did not see .gr as TLDs, contact Cloudflare see if .gr is OK for them.
If not, why not get a .com domain? It cost only USD $9.15 a year.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M-wxorxYVNs

OK, even pointer.gr use Cloudflare DNS nameserver

Emt2zhs.png
 
That seems to be the issue though i think. Pointer.gr never updates or shows my real dynamic public IP. It always shows their own and points to my .gr domain.

They don't offer any tool that can be installed on any system to retract my real public IP, hence why I see their IP on their dashboard and on cloudflare.

I hope I will get a reply from them in the next 10-12 hours (GMT+2 here) and short it out.0

I will also ask Cloudflare as you prompted for TLD .gr

I can't move to a .com domain as it is already registered by someone else. I have the .gr which is fine for my region, and could add also .cy or even .biz etc...

Btw thank you again lantis3 for your replies and info! Much appreciated!
 
It's not normal for a TLD has a dynamic IP and majority registrars just don't support it, since ICANN basically demand a domain and domain's nameserver to have a static IP. So most registrars just don't provide any way / API / tools to let you update TLD's IP address. A domain with a dynamic IP also put a load on server. So with most registrars you just have to login registrar's website to change A record's IP address.

CNAME
 
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