On Message with Ben Gross

OpenDNS and DNS-O-Matic Scaling DNS and Dynamic IPs

January 3rd, 2008

Recently, the OpenDNS, a free public DNS resolution service, recently launched DNS-O-Matic that allows users to register and push changes to their dynamically assigned IP addresses to multiple dynamic DNS services.

The majority of consumer broadband services assign users dynamic IP addresses rather than static IP addresses. These addresses routinely change. Typically devices on a home network or a LAN such as routers, IP phones, gaming systems, and digital video recorders are assigned local IP addresses via DHCP. Most software (remote access applications and other locally run servers) uses the system assigned IP address that are generally not accessible externally.

The problem dynamic DNS services solve is to provide users with an external hostname in DNS. The hostname in DNS allows a user to reach a device or a server on their home network from an external location without knowing the current IP addresses.

The dynamic DNS services automatically handle receiving IP address change updates from clients. There are a myriad of Dnynamic DNS services such as OpenDNS, DynDNS, and NoIP. Most have their own mechanism to receive updates from user’s devices when their ISP assigned IP address changes. DNS-O-Matic aggregates multiple dynamic DNS services with a single straightforward API that should make it easier for software and device manufacturers to integrate dynamic DNS services without having to choose which services to support or worry about API changes with individual services.

DNS-O-Matic is modeled after the Ping-O-Matic service from the Wordpress creators Automattic which aggregates RPC pings for weblog services. DNS-O-Matic is free for both consumers and companies who integrate the service.

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