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DynDNS Cuts Back Free DNS Options
First time accepted submitter LazyBoyWrangler writes "Just noticed the 'free' non-commercial service from DynDNS has been deprecated. Not my place to argue with their business model changes, but the home router infrastructure out there has been built around the promise of free dynamic DNS service. Most manufacturers offer DynDNS as their only option. Removing the free service for non-commercial folks seems disingenuous when they are the only option for many users." According to the linked page, the free service is being drastically cut back for new users (one free hostname, rather than five, and from a shorter list of branded domains), but not ended entirely. Existing users, it says, will see no changes "as long as you keep your hostnames active and up-to-date. If you allow your account or hostnames to expire, you will have to select from the new domains instead and will be limited to the one free hostname."
It does matter when 99% of routers only have dyndns as an option.
Gone!
This policy change is many months old, maybe even over a year.
When I saw the article, I thought that maybe there were even more changes, but I saw nothing new that I did not know since at least the first quarter of this year. I'd have to go rifle through my email archive to know for sure exactly when I first heard about this change.
File under 'M' for 'Manic ranting'
Agreed -- this is old news. I got my notice about this change on 27 Aug 2010 -- about a year and a half ago. Submitter has been asleep at the switch.
Given that they're still giving me free stuff, just not quite as much free stuff, I didn't really feel all that upset about it. :)
Here's most of the text of the notice:
From: "DynDNS Support"
To: dragonhawk@
Subject: Changes to NEW DynDNS.com Accounts
Date: Fri, 27 Aug 2010 14:39:14 -0300
Reply-To: support@dyndns.com
Return-Path: marketer@bouncelabs.com
What changes are you talking about?
Previously we allowed each Dynamic DNS account to have 5 free hostnames and you could select them from 88 different domains that we own. Now this will be limited to 2 free hostnames from 18 DynDNS branded domains.
Also, we are increasing the number of hostnames that come with a DynDNS Pro upgrade. Previously, each DynDNS Pro upgrade gave you the ability to add 25 additional hostnames. We are increasing that number to 30.
Why are you making these changes?
There are a number of reasons that we thought it was important to make these changes now.
Having 88 free domains to choose from was overwhelming for many of our new users. By reducing this to 18 it makes it easier for people to get started.
By limiting the free options to the DynDNS branded domains, it helps grow the awareness of our services. Although we are happy to offer our free services, we simply ask that you help spread the word to other people who might find our paid services helpful. We have to pay those bills somehow.
Looking at the stats of our users over the past 12 years, we see that the vast majority of people only use 1 free hostname. Our support team has seen a lot of confusion caused by the five free hostnames, so when you combine that with the normal use case, it just made sense. We are allowing the 2nd hostname for those who need to create a WebHop to access your hostname. If you are going to need more than 1 or 2 hostnames there's a good chance you are using us for something important. If that's the case, we simply ask that you pay $15/yr for the DynDNS Pro upgrade, which provides a number of other benefits.
If you are using our services for business critical needs, you should consider our Custom DNS service.
What will happen to my current account and hostnames?
Nothing, as long as you keep your hostnames active and up-to-date. If you allow your account or hostnames to expire, you will have to select from the new domains instead and will be limited to the 2 free hostnames. To ensure you arenâ(TM)t affected by these changes, upgrade to DynDNS Pro for just $15/yr. Again, there are a number of other benefits to upgrading.
You're just trying to force us to pay you, aren't you?
No, not really. As long as you keep your account active, you won't be affected by these changes. We would never want to have a user feel like they were forced to use our services. This does not seem to be a very good business model to us. You do your part (log into your account or update your hostname monthly) and we will do ours (continue to offer free Dynamic DNS services to you).
dragonhawk@iname.microsoft.com
I do not like Microsoft. Remove them from my email address.
DynDNS, they have maintained their lead only via a proprietary interface and a market lead.
Dyn has submitted their HTTP update API as an IETF draft:
http://tools.ietf.org/id/draft-jennings-app-dns-update-02.txt
So it's not proprietary (limited to or owned by them). You might call it non-standard, but if that draft was accepted it would be on the IETF standards track.
Also, Dyn *does* offer DNS UPDATE support, but only for paying customers:
http://dyn.com/support/clients/dynamic-dns-updates-via-tsig/
dragonhawk@iname.microsoft.com
I do not like Microsoft. Remove them from my email address.
Worth a look: http://www.dd-wrt.com/wiki/index.php/What_is_DD-WRT%3F
Open source router firmware provides support for a number of dynamic dns providers. Including: DynDNS, easyDNS, FreeDNS, No-IP, TZO, ZoneEdit, custom, and others
Then buy the service or run your own DNS why don't you? Geez, the economy is in the shitter, these guys are probably hurting just like everyone else and simply can't afford to keep giving the service away, yet listen to all the bitching. If the service is THAT useful to you? Then why don't you help them stay afloat! TNSTAAFL you know, would you rather they just went tits up? Service goes dark either way you know.
ACs don't waste your time replying, your posts are never seen by me.
True just went back and checked my email from August 2010 and there is the notice.
Subject: Changes to NEW DynDNS.com Accounts
Message-ID: bfd1113cf66806ecb6d56590e45d7736@marketer.sendlabs.com
Return-Path: marketer@bouncelabs.com
Date: Fri, 27 Aug 2010 14:39:14 -0300
From: "DynDNS Support"
Reply-To: support@dyndns.com
Hello:
As you may have seen, we are making some changes to Dynamic DNS accounts.
Instead of making the changes without notice, we wanted to give all of our
existing customers a heads up and explain why we are making these changes.
What changes are you talking about?
Previously we allowed each Dynamic DNS account to have 5 free hostnames and
you could select them from 88 different domains that we own. Now this will
be limited to 2 free hostnames from 18 DynDNS branded domains.
Also, we are increasing the number of hostnames that come with a DynDNS Pro
upgrade. Previously, each DynDNS Pro upgrade gave you the ability to add 25
additional hostnames. We are increasing that number to 30.
Why are you making these changes?
There are a number of reasons that we thought it was important to make
these changes now.
1. Having 88 free domains to choose from was overwhelming for many of
our new users. By reducing this to 18 it makes it easier for people to get
started.
2. By limiting the free options to the DynDNS branded domains, it helps
grow the awareness of our services. Although we are happy to offer our free
services, we simply ask that you help spread the word to other people who
might find our paid services helpful. We have to pay those bills somehow.
3. Looking at the stats of our users over the past 12 years, we see that
the vast majority of people only use 1 free hostname. Our support team has
seen a lot of confusion caused by the five free hostnames, so when you
combine that with the normal use case, it just made sense. We are allowing
the 2nd hostname for those who need to create a WebHop to access your
hostname. If you are going to need more than 1 or 2 hostnames there's a
good chance you are using us for something important. If that's the case,
we simply ask that you pay $15/yr for the DynDNS Pro upgrade, which
provides a number of other benefits.
4. If you are using our services for business critical needs, you should
consider our Custom DNS service.
What will happen to my current account and hostnames?
Nothing, as long as you keep your hostnames active and up-to-date. If you
allow your account or hostnames to expire, you will have to select from the
new domains instead and will be limited to the 2 free hostnames. To ensure
you aren’t affected by these changes, upgrade to DynDNS Pro for just
$15/yr. Again, there are a number of other benefits to upgrading.
You're just trying to force us to pay you, aren't you?
No, not really. As long as you keep your account active, you won't be
affected by these changes. We would never want to have a user feel like
they were forced to use our services. This does not seem to be a very good
business model to us. You do your part (log into your account or update
your hostname monthly) and we will do ours (continue to offer free Dynamic
DNS services to you).
--
Chris Widner
DynDNS Ninja Squad Sensei
Let old hairy show ya what to do friend. You go to Craigslist, or your local Freecycle chapter if you have one, pick up any of the bazillion older boxes out there, keep an eye out for Celerons and Semprons as they are low power and both underclock quite nicely. Once that is completed go to your local mom & pop shop and ask about Ethernet cards. Since nearly all boxes today have Ethernet built in we usually have a drawer just full of Ethernet cards and we'll be happy to sell you some cheap. I personally am happy to let them go at $6 a pop and will even burn you a nice CD with the drivers along with some freeware if you'd like. Then you can either use the XP that came with it or one of the bazillion Linux router discs out there, if you want to get fancy pants you can pick up a $5 flash card and IDE to flash converter to cut down even further on heat and noise, but personally I'd leave the drive in it and use it as a downloader box as well..
Tada! you know how a router that is frankly insanely overpowered and will do anything you can dream up. DNS,BT, you can even use it to surf when the weather is nasty and you don't want to risk your main PCs. Depending on the board you'd be surprised how low you can underclock a Cele or Sempy and even at default clocks they can be pretty low powered. For years I had a 733MHz P3 I used for my "anything network related" box before finally giving it away when I got this 1.8GHz Sempron with a card reader. It makes a great DNS and downloader box, quiet as a churchmouse.
Or if you think that's too much trouble just cut DynDNS a check and call it a day. Personally I think one of the advantages of being a geek is we can make a PC into pretty much any damned thing we want and scavenging boxes and making cool stuff is a fun way to spend a Sunday IMHO. Hell I'm using my new EEE Netbook as a drum machine to lay down tracks with, just loaded Hydrogen along with making some cool patterns and tada! No having to kill ourselves worrying about finding a new drummer while the local college is off on holiday. By the time they get back we'll have most of the base tracks laid and can just hand one of the kids a CD and let them loose. Sure beats having to deal with an arrogant drummer whose timing depends on how many beers he's had up to that point, that's for sure.
ACs don't waste your time replying, your posts are never seen by me.
Dyndns's subscription cost, while it isn't epsilon, certainly is delta. A one-year subscription is $20, or you could do monthly for $2.
$20. If you really need the service, you could practically find that in the couch cushions over the course of a year.
Hail Eris, full of mischief...
E pluribus sanguinem