Setting up Dynamic Domain Name System (DDNS) on a DD-WRT router

[Note] These steps were created using a DD-WRT enabled Asus N-16 router running the firmware “DD-WRT v24-sp2 (12/20/11) mega”.

If you’re unsure what DD-WRT is, then check out the DD-WRT wiki. I won’t claim that it is perfect, but it does provide some fun services you can run on your home LAN to get ‘more’ out of your internet experiences. Essentially, you take a moderately priced router and reflash it with a ‘better’ firmware, resulting in more capabilities. It’s a project that shouldn’t run more than $70. The ASUS N-16 router is a popular choice to flash, as it can support the largest DD-WRT firmware build (referred to as the ‘mega’ build).

Among other services, a DD-WRT enabled router provides a scripted Dynamic Domain Name System (DDNS) to allow the resolution of your WAN IP address (the IP address assigned to you by the ISP) via a (free) FQDN assigned to you by one of many providers. The updates are on a regular interval, so even when your home router’s WAN IP changes, you can still access your home LAN.

Check out a few of the sites offering free FQDN services (DynDNS.org, freedns.afraid.org, TZO.com, 3322.org, ZoneEdit.com, No-IP.com, to name a few), pick your favorite, create an account, then create your free FQDN. Now log into you DD-WRT enabled router.

Using the screenshot I took from a DD-WRT router as your guide…

• Click on the DDNS tab (arrow 1)

• Choose your DDNS service from the drop down menu (arrow 2)

• Fill out your DDNS account information you used to log into the DDNS webpage, along with your newly created FQDN (arrow 3)

Hit the save button at the bottom of the screen, and voila! That’s it! You should now be able to open a command line window, and ping to your FQDN, and see it resolve to your WAN IP address (I put a yellow box around this address in the screenshot).