DNS With DVR?

[kali]

Clients Whom Do not want to pay for a static IP, or cannot get a Static IP (because of no business acct. with their ISP), do have another option - DNS

Has any one used this service yet on their installs? Please offer some PROs and CONs

[GregS]

I've been using DynDNS for years. But they client is going to have to pay for that eventually too.

Just build a couple of years of service into your contract.

[Sir Flannel]

Yes, have used DynDNS also, with decent results. If you can't get a static IP, it's pretty easy. I have heard some DVR's now come with settings for using a DNS service, but I haven't messed with any. We use the Linksys routers, because they do have a place for setting up DNS. However, if you're using cable, and the modem doesn't shut off, the IP usually stays the same, so keep that in mind when working with the DNS

[Adam Wright]

My experience with dns is that it works great so long as the dns server doesn't go down.
Which I have seen with some DVR vendors who operate their own. I personally rather have a static IP for my home so I can take advantage of IP monitoring for my alarm system. Also many home automation systems allow you to change your thermostat, turn on/off lights etc. Having a static IP eleminates the Dns server you would be relying on, out of the equation if your troubleshooting why you cant connect to devices on your network remotely.

[addypaul]

The IP that you see on our homepage is your external IP and the IP you'll use to access the DVR from outside of your network.To find the IP of your DVR,I'd like to add to the comments above.You should be able to hook a monitor to the DVR and access the admin or setup section where you can assign your DVR a static LAN IP address as Above mentions in his reply.In the setup section of the DVR, you'll need to note the port that the device uses. My DVR uses 2 ports that I had to forward to the DVR in order to be able to access it via a web browser from outside of my network.

[securitycamerasplus]

Please understand there is no fee when using dyndns.org to provide a static free service to your clients. This service is very reliable and can be used to up sell your customers. Provide your customers with a service the competitors do not offer.

The setup and configuration takes but a moment. Do not bill your customers for service where it is not needed, this only has your customers questions your trust and their wallet.

The idea is to satisfy a customer not rip them off.

[kali]

So Do you have someone logging in to the dyndns.org once a month? (so the account doesn't expire) However if you purchase a PRO account (FOR A FEE) you dont have the 30 day expiration issues.

Some ISPs are starting to provide their clients with Modems/Routers, can not do port forwarding unless the client gets a static IP.

[Sir Flannel]

Originally Posted by kali

So Do you have someone logging in to the dyndns.org once a month? (so the account doesn't expire) However if you purchase a PRO account (FOR A FEE) you dont have the 30 day expiration issues.

Some ISPs are starting to provide their clients with Modems/Routers, can not do port forwarding unless the client gets a static IP.

DynDNS sends an email when a host is about to expire, and provides a link to click to keep it active. One click, and it knows the host is still in use. I have to do that once every few months with my personal one, and have not had to do it with any of the clients we have that we set up with DynDNS.

[securitycamerasplus]

If you create an account with DYNdns.org you will take the information and input it into your Router or you DVR system. You DO NOT need to go to the website and update it. Inputting the information into the Linksys Router for example will resolve this issue for you. This is free an automated. We have hundreds of our students providing this service to their customers after we have instructed them and they contact us always and thank us for showing them the step by step process in our class.

Please stay tuned we our finishing up our web based training for CCTV & Networking and will be available "On Demand" shortly.

[DIACon]

I think it is an important distinction for those who may stumble across this thread, to point out that we've been talking about DDNS, not just DNS.

DNS = Domain Name System
DDNS = Dynamic DNS

The distinction is important because DNS itself will not solve your Dynamic IP woes. If someone goes for a DNS only service, it will point to the IP given, and not change when the Dynamic IP does (a rare occurrence on most "always on" broadband connections).

Dynamic DNS is a system where a device, whether it is the DVR itself, the router, or a PC on the network, makes an outbound connection to a server on the internet and notifies that server if the IP address has changed, and that server updates the DNS record to reflect the change.

DDNS is far from perfect. For one because DNS records do not always update instantly (Dynamic or not). If you were for example, connected to the DVR, the power at the DVR location flickered, and the IP address changed, you might not be able to reconnect to the DVR immediately after, because the changes in the DNS record might not have been globally reflected.

That said, if Static IP is not an option, then DDNS is the way to go.