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."

Comments

Doesn't matter

[Foxhoundz]

I've been using this site for a while now and I must say I like it.

Re:Doesn't matter

[ultranova]

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.

The economy is in the shitter, so of course people complain about increasing expenses, since they can't afford them either.

Re:Doesn't matter

[makomk]

Then buy the service or run your own DNS why don't you?

I tried this actually. If you run your own dynamic DNS service most consumer routers won't update it - they're hardcoded to only support DynDNS. That's why this is such a big deal. Because the free DynDNS option was "good enough" for so long nearly all hardware manufacturers didn't bother to support anything else.

Re:Doesn't matter

[aix tom]

Pretty much. Of course, since nearly all hardware manufacturers probably also didn't bother to support DnyDNS *financially* for the feature they used to sell their product, DynDNS probably got more and more workload from those freeloaders and couldn't afford to keep the free service up. It would have been pretty trivial to have a "configuratble http request to a configurable host" in the router to update pretty much all dynamic dns providers out there. But router manufacturers seem to have chosen to cheap-skate.

(Although for 99% of people out there the one host name per router should still be enough, the few who absolutely *Need* more are most likely to also be able to pay for the better service.)

Awesome! Finally.

[GoRK]

I think this is great news. Maybe router manufacturers will now be smart enough to simply include DNS Update (RFC 2136) support instead of the proprietary dyndns garbage. Enter your domain name and a key and you're all set.

Well, they're not a charity

[the_humeister]

I use them, but I only have one address anyway.

If it has value to you

[NaCh0]

Vote with your checkbook. We're not talking thousands of dollars or life critical systems here.

Re:If it has value to you

[icebike]

Exactly. Spend a few bucks people.

I've been paying them the pittance they ask every year since dirt. Its well worth it for the reliable service, and
access to machines behind dynamic ips. Way cheaper than a static IP these days, and essential for a
traveling machine. (I register two names per interface on traveling laptops, external IP, and internal IP).

Re:They're complete asshats about DMCA emails

[Anonymous Coward]

You left DynDNS due to DMCA abuse and you then went to GoDaddy? Are you crazy?

Re:They're complete asshats about DMCA emails

[Zelucifer]

Ok, but the correct response was to send a DMCA counter-notice. DMCA Safe Harbor requires them to take down infringement, unless a counter-notice is filed.

Re:They're complete asshats about DMCA emails

[nedlohs]

So instead of sending the simple counter notice that requires them to put ot back you decided to send something else that acting upon would expose them to legal liability.

And you were surprised that they decided not to lose their safe harbour protection?

Not only that, but they killed EveryDNS

[mysidia]

They took over handling of the "EveryDNS" free service, with promises to continue the service.

But now they have forced all EveryDNS users who want to keep using the service to pay them to migrate.

And EveryDNS is gone.

Obviously the choice of DynDNS to be the ones to take over the service was a bit disingenuous, since, it was just a strategy to make more $$$ while pretending to be altruistic

Bait and switch..

[Junta]

My problem is the bait and switch. If I was going to *pay* for a domain, I sure as hell wouldn't have selected one as limited as a DynDNS subdomain, but I did because it *was* free. Paying to have a host record in one of their domain when for the same amount of money I can have my own domain seems ridiculous.