DDNS required for both server and client?

[marriott79]

Hi,

My apologies in advance for asking a daft question, but if I have a server and a client that are both using dynamic IP addresses, do they both need to be running a DDNS program like No-IP?

I read the FAQ regarding this issue, but it's using an ifconfig X.X.X.1 X.X.X.2 "peer-to-peer" connection. In such a configuration, I would see the need for the remote foo.no-ip.org command to be supplied on each end (and hence each would need its own DDNS IP updater and domain name).

However, if I'm using a server X.X.X.0 255.255.255.0 configuration on the server, and a client configuration on the client, wouldn't I only need a DDNS IP updater on the server? The client would of course use the remote myServer.no-ip.org statement, but if the client IP address changed, wouldn't the server know this implicitly when the client sent the next packet from a different IP address?

My other question would be: the No-IP updater software refreshes every 5 minutes. This means it's possible for the IP address to change at one end and there would be no communication between the client and server for up to 5 minutes. Based on your experience, is this usually a problem for client-server applications that might connect through the tunnel? I'm trying to access some accounting software remotely, and I'm wondering if this would cause it to crash... and if so, is there anything I can do to prevent this (short of purchasing static IP addresses)?

TIA!

[janjust]

in client/server mode (i.e. using the "server ..." directive) only the server needs a dyndns address to be found; the client does not need a DNS name

when the VPN connection starts up the name is resolved and a connection is made; after that the name resolution is no longer used, until the connection is dropped/restarted. As long as the dynamic IP does not change this should not cause any problems. The only time a dynamic IP will give you trouble is when the IP itself changes often (i.e. your cable/ADSL provider assigns you a new address every 10 minutes). I have yet to see this in real life , however..

HTH,

JJK

[marriott79]

Thanks! I thought that was the case, but I wanted to be sure.