Tutorials: Domain name besides IP and How to Make a dynamic IP static URL?

Why use domain name in addition to IP - is a useful?
1) The domain name is always easier for memorization than long numeric IP address
2) If your server will move to other hosting, that servers IP, accordingly will change and thus you can lose the players which played on your servers. But if you additionally to external static IP have a attached domain, it doesn't make a sens, because they always can connect to you servers by typing in console connect domainname:port

3) Also if you have dynamic IP, that basically you’ll need to tell to your friends your new IP address, each time when it changes and that's really annoying, in this situation using domain, facilitate admins job very much (because domain is constant, it's not changeable). But when players add server to favorites list, it will added by IP, not like a domain address, and link to server will be not active at next IP changing. That is a big disadvantage , taking into account the fact that more than 80% of players come on a server from favorites tab. In this situation remains the only ask all your players memorize domain name and connect each time manually!

The easy solution of this problems, is Free Dynamic Domain Name Services (DDNS) - allowing aliasing of dynamic IP addresses to static hostnames.
I will advise 2 most widespread free services rendering this facility. Its the DynDNS.com and No-Ip.com (on the destination they are absolutely identical, and differs only by given domain names, so which service facility to choose, it's a matter of taste

What should you do?

1. Your need to register (Create Account).



2. Verify your e-mail
3. Download and install the client program for your Operation System.
No-IP DUC (Dynamic DNS Update Client) 2.2.1

DynDNS® Updater (4.0.8)


4. Go to your account and create a Host Service, for this click on the "Add New Hostname".


No-IP.com
Hostname: - Your domain name (choose from No-Ip Free Domains category)
Host Type: - DNS Host (A)
IP Address: - your current external IP
Click on "Create Host."


DynDNS.com
Hostname: - Your domain name
Service Type: - "Host with IP address"
IP Address: - press "Use auto detected IP address"
Click on "Create Host." , then on new window click "Payment" (don’t worry its free), and to finalize click on "Activate Services", your done.

5. Run the client program and enter your username and password and see a list of administered domain names. Free, you can register until five names.
Each time when your IP has changed, it will be updated automatically.

No-IP DUC (Dynamic DNS Update Client) 2.2.1

DynDNS® Updater (4.0.8)


Well now you have 2 different methods of connecting to your server.
1) regular one by your external static/dynamic ip address for example: connect 69.208.199.237
2) by domain name as connect create-server.no-ip.info:27015

NOTE: IMPORTANT You should always start your DDNS Update Client, before run your server!!!