I am looking for an easy to configure dyndns client... All the ones I have tried aere very complicated, and I couldnt tell if I even had them working or not, as my IP only changes every two three weeks or so. also, what file would I modify to have a particular service startup when I booted up? I know it has something to do with the runlevel, but I am not sure which file it is... Basically I want apache to start when I boot.thanks

i'm not sure what u r asking

starting apache at boot time
depends on what distro u are using
if u run redhat/mandrake, search this forum with 'chkconfig apache'
you want to do something like chkconfig --add apache or so

about ip changing.
u can just change /etc/hosts file whenever your ip changes

For those who do not know, dyndns.org (and other sites) provide a IP registration for a permanent FQDN. It is really nice in that upon change, dyndns.org can be notified automatically to update DNS, meaning I could (if I so choose) run a web site always accessible even with changing IP addresses (though a little ridiculous on a dialup) so long as my machine is up. Also I have a permanent mail address that is not dependent on spooling through my ISP, but which is delivered directly to me (particularly can be nice since ISPs may soon be required to save all copies of email by the government, thanks to the illegal and intolerable regime in power in the country I call home -- but I degress....)

I personally use ddclient for automatic updating of dyndns.org. The instructions provided are not all that clear on configuration, but it really is not so bad.

Part of my ddclient.conf looks like this (with information changed to protect the innocent):

login=itsjustme # default login
password=mypassword # default password
#mx=mx.for.your.host # default MX
#backupmx=yes|no # host is primary MX?
#wildcard=yes|no # add wildcard CNAME?
wildcard=yes # add wildcard CNAME?

##
## dyndns.org dynamic addresses
##
## (supports variables: wildcard,mx,backupmx)
##
server=members.dyndns.org, \
protocol=dyndns2 \
# your-dynamic-host.dyndns.org
myhost1.homelinux.org # 1st registered name
montain.mine.nu # 2nd registered name

I added their script as is to /etc/ppp/ip-up.local, with the addition of a line or two which updates /etc/hosts to the proper ip number.

I hope this gets you on your way. And yes "chkconfig --add apache" works on most systems (but I don't think Suse uses it). This information is for RH7.3.

I really like the No-IP service/client. (www.no-ip.com) The setup is super easy (they have both Windows and Linux versions) and the service always works. It's also FREE!!!

HI Thanks for this info!
I cant seem to get my ddclient to start!
and do we need to add the intreface?
eth0?
here is my attempt:

*****************************************************************************************

#
protocol=dyndns2 # default protocol
proxy=fasthttp.sympatico.ca:80 # default proxy
server=members.dyndns.org # default server
server=members.dyndns.org:8245 # default server (bypassing proxies)

login=********* # default login
password=******** # default password
mx=************ # default MX
backupmx=yes # host is primary MX?
wildcard=yes

----------------------------------------------------------------------
[root@panther ddclient-3.6.3]# cp sample-etc_rc.d_init.d_ddclient /etc/rc.d/init.d/ddclient
[root@panther ddclient-3.6.3]# /sbin/chkconfig --add ddclient
[root@panther ddclient-3.6.3]# /etc/rc.d/init.d/ddclient start
Starting ddclient: /etc/rc.d/init.d/ddclient: line 21: ddclient: command not found

[root@panther ddclient-3.6.3]# /etc/rc.d/init.d/ddclient start
Starting ddclient: /etc/rc.d/init.d/ddclient: line 21: ddclient: command not found

[root@panther ddclient-3.6.3]#

*************************************************************************************
ps I am running cable with NTL and all seems to run ok
IP changes now and then

pps just noticed I got the MX wrong I'll change that!

Not sure what I'm doing wrong
Its on a clarkconnect box running rh 9 I assume
Thanks all
Kedman

You need to copy the "ddclient" binary to an executable location. I think the path may be hardcoded (so it needs to reside in /usr/bin or whatever) so watch where you put it. Read the docs, it's all there.

I would check my own config but I recently had to bring my server down after two years of good service.

Håkan

I've switched myself from a dynamic dialup to static dsl. As hw-tph says, the information you need is all in the README included in the packages and sample files included (which of course need modification to fit your particular situation). I put ddclient in /usr/sbin and used the the file sample-etc_ppp_ip-up.local to modify my /etc/ppp/ip-up.local. This was for a configuration in non-daemon mode. ddclient can also be run as a daemon or as part of a cron, and there is a debug mode.