Windows Server - Moving server to dynamic IP - will this work??

Asked By Job Andersson

05-Feb-10 09:01 AM

Hi!

We are currently looking into moving our server to a local office since
response time is horribly sluggish atm (when server is stationed at a web
hotel), etc opening files and stuff like that can take minutes.

Our local office only has dynamic IP, there is no way to attain static IP.

Our server hosts our website, Exchange server system and local domain server
system.

I know we can use DYNDNS to make the change but how?! We already have a FQDN
that we must use, so we cannot change our website/email to a dyndns name.

We do not want to DYNDNS to manage our domain name. So we want to keep our
current host for domain name.

What I am wondering is if it possible to somehow reroute a FQDN to a DNS
that routes traffic to DYNDNS domain name

See this example:

ourcompany.com -> ourcompany.dyndns.org -> dynamic IP?

Is this possible? How do we go about it or is all wrong?

Question 2 is how we do this change. One solution is that we log into the
service provided by the company were we bought our domain and change the
adresses for our server that currently points to a DNS server that belongs to
a company we hired for this purpose and make it instead point directly
towards DYNDNS.

Anoter solution is taht we contact the same company and have them change
their IP adress values to point at DYNDNS instead at direclty to our server.

I might be going about this completely the wrong way, so I would really
appreciate some help.

Thanks!

P.S. Yes, I already now you shouldnt have your server at a dynamic IP. But
Ive read that there ishould not be any problems with doing that and its outside
the scope of this thread.

05-Feb-10 11:00 AM

Are you sure? ~99% of business-grade internet connections have static IP
availability, sometimes for free, sometimes for an extra fee.



Hosting a public website on SBS is not a good idea.



Delete the Host record for www.yourdomain.com, and instead create a CNAME
for www.yourdomain.com that has crappyinternetconnection.dyndns.org for
the alias.



Huh? All you need do is update the DNS records for your domain (to work
with a dynamic IP).



Then you have probably read all the comments that tell you why a static IP
is superior, and avoids having to deal with silly nonsense like DynDNS
(who do a good job, under the circumstances!).

--
Steve Foster
------------
Please reply only to the newsgroups.
For SSL Certificates, Domains, etc, visit.: https://netshop.virtual-isp.net

05-Feb-10 11:31 AM

As Steve points out, it may be possible to get a "static" address. But even
if it is not, you can use a dynamic one with a service such as DynDNS. Or,
what I do is use ZoneEdit.com to manage my DNS records, and then load a copy
of DirectUpdate on the server. It runs as a service and will automatically
connect to a long list of DNS providers (including both DynDNS and ZoneEdit)
and update the records whenever there is a change. it is an inexpensive piece
of shareware that I have been quite satisfied with.

--
Charlie.
http://msmvps.com/blogs/russel

06-Feb-10 03:57 AM

Steve in defense of the OP
Trust me Even though yes you should be able to get a Business Static IP
There are places that do not give a Static IP even though they claim they
are a Business ISP
(Yes They are not)

To the OP
Yes you can use a Dynamic IP, along with Steve's and Charlie's Suggestion

I also Suggest Getting backup MX Records from some place like
DNSMADEEASY.COM
And set your TTL on your MX As low as you can
Then in case your IP changes and the updater misses the change
At least then your mail will not bounce until you change your IP to the correct
setting :)
Russ

--
Russell Grover - SBITS.Biz [SBS-MVP]
Microsoft Gold Certified Partner
Microsoft Certified Small Business Specialist
24hr SBS Remote Support - www.SBITS.Biz
Second Opinion $25 - www.PersonalITConsultant.com
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06-Feb-10 10:25 AM

If you must use a dynamic IP, be sure not to use a software updating
client, as they are unreliable. Always use a router/firewall with a built-in
updating client. Disregard any protests to the contrary from the dynamic DNS
service.

One more consideration is that you will probably need to use a
smarthost (usually the ISP's mail server) for outbound mail. If you try to
use DNS many important and less important mail servers will not accept your
mail simply because it comes from a dynamic IP address. Alternatively, you
can create a separate SMTP connector for any mail server that bounces your
mail and just route that mail via the smarthost.

Once you have the dynamic DNS host name operational, simply point
your MX toward it. You do not have to transfer your domain registration, and
you do not need to change your DNS information unless the control panel or
technical support for the DNS does not allow you to change the MX record.