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DynDNS Cuts Back Free DNS Options

Posted by timothy on from the yes-we-have-fewer-bananas-today dept.

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."

17 of 223 comments (clear)

  1. Doesn't matter by Foxhoundz · · Score: 5, Insightful

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

    1. Re:Doesn't matter by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

      It does matter when 99% of routers only have dyndns as an option.

      we are the 99%

    2. Re:Doesn't matter by aix+tom · · Score: 5, Insightful

      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.)

    3. Re:Doesn't matter by Nimey · · Score: 5, Informative

      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
  2. Yep by bobstreo · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Already lost a domain name I had for I have no idea how many years because google marked the notification as junk so I never saw it.

    I'm partly to blame for not logging in every other day to make sure my account didn't expire.

  3. What's most disturbing is the lack of others... by Above · · Score: 5, Interesting

    While there are services, like DynDNS with proprietary interfaces the reality is that dynamic DNS has a standard interface. RFC 2136 style updates should work with any provider, allowing equipment makers to support everyone. While DynDNS has supported people well, I hope this move makes end users demand RFC standard support in devices so that ANY dynamic DNS provider can be used. There are choices other than DynDNS, they have maintained their lead only via a proprietary interface and a market lead.

    1. Re:What's most disturbing is the lack of others... by girlintraining · · Score: 5, Interesting
      What's really disturbing is the sense of entitlement on the internet; Network resources cost money. Maybe not much, but not zero either. But I digress... end users aren't going to demand anything. Appealing to a sudden outburst of education and intelligence is like praying for rain in the middle of a desert. Sure, once in a great, great while you might get lucky and have your wish granted... But I'd humbly suggest a more life-preserving option.

      I mean, look at IPv6; IP address space is now gone. There were economic and technical incentives years ago to convert but nobody did. Now IP addresses, a completely artificial and invented thing, has become equivalent to real property... and people are reluctant to switch now because they've made an investment in this intangible.

      No, if there's anything the internet has taught me it's this; The answer to "They couldn't POSSIBLY be that stupid..." is always "Oh yes they could."

      --
      #fuckbeta #iamslashdot #dicemustdie
  4. Awesome! Finally. by GoRK · · Score: 5, Insightful

    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.

  5. If it has value to you by NaCh0 · · Score: 5, Insightful

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

    1. Re:If it has value to you by icebike · · Score: 5, Insightful

      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).

      --
      Sig Battery depleted. Reverting to safe mode.
  6. Who is being disingenuous? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Interesting

    It seems like the router manufacturers, who have essentially been free-riding on dyndns' service as a selling point for their routers.

  7. timothy ... by Udo+Schmitz · · Score: 5, Funny

    You actually read the submission and checked the facts, possibly avoiding a flame fest. This is totally unacceptable and goes against everything /. stands for.

  8. Re:They're complete asshats about DMCA emails by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

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

  9. Re:They're complete asshats about DMCA emails by Zelucifer · · Score: 5, Insightful

    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.

    --
    The corner of a round room
  10. Not really proprietary... by DragonHawk · · Score: 5, Informative

    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.
  11. There are other options for DynDNS only routers by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

    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

  12. Re:Old news by Wild+Wizard · · Score: 5, Informative

    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