Is it possible to have a usable domain without a VPS or a static IP address?

Submitted ⁨⁨3⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago⁩ by ⁨Inkstainthebat@pawb.social⁩ to ⁨selfhosted@lemmy.world⁩

I’ve been thinking about finally getting myself a proper domain for my server, but a friend told me that to get one I either need a VPS with a public ip (which just takes all the fun out of selfhosting) or purchase a static ip, which is beyond what I’m willing to spend for a hobby. Do I have any good options or should I just let it go?

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EpicFailGuy@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago
I have the VPS setup, and it’s not bad at all, I pay 3.99 a month and it acts as a gateway into my network filtering any malicious ip by using crowdsec.

I use Pangolin reverse proxy, but you can also use netbird.

I prefer this because on top of the routing options it ads extra security and lets me share subdomains with friends and family without exposing my network to the internet

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EncryptKeeper@lemmy.world ⁨3⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago
What are you asking? You can just buy a domain whenever you want. You can use it on your server without a VPS or static IP.

Are you asking us how to make your services reachable at that domain publicly over the internet?

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brickfrog@lemmy.dbzer0.com ⁨3⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

but a friend told me that to get one I either need a VPS with a public ip (which just takes all the fun out of selfhosting) or purchase a static ip

Neither of those are requirements. Just buy a domain at a registrar that allows you to dynamically update an IP address with a domain you have there. Look into DDNS update scripts and/or your own internet router, many routers have that feature built-in already.

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grue@lemmy.world ⁨3⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago
I have a domain, but all I use it for so far is email (with an email provider, not my own mail server, hosted locally or otherwise). I’d still call that “usable,” though.

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mrnobody@reddthat.com ⁨3⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago
I’m late to the party, but could everyone answer me this- how often does you’re public IP actually change with any of your ISPs??

With the numerous companies I’ve used, the ONLY time I’ve ever seen my IP change is getting a new modem through, say, Comcast or whoever. It goes by MAC address, and if you use Comcast and then set to bridge mode and use your own device, that’s a new MAC so you’d get a new public IP. Swap ISPs obviously a new IP.

I’ve NEVER randomly received a new IP when using the same equipment consistently, so I’m not sure why everyone’s so worried about dynamic DNS stuff… Maybe outside the US is different? I’ve lived in a few States and it’s always the same. If you make a hardware change, just note you should also double check your IP and update it, that’s all.

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- MUGv0@sh.itjust.works ⁨3⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago
  Mine has stayed the same for about 3 years now. My friend has theirs change any time there’s a power cycle so a handful of times every year between power surges and firmware updates.
  
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  - mrnobody@reddthat.com ⁨3⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago
    Oh wow! That’s pretty excessive lol. Is it CGNAT maybe?
    
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- pHr34kY@lemmy.world ⁨3⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago
  Mine would go years without changing. The last few changes were caused by things like the upstream DHCP server failing and being replaced.
  
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- Appoxo@lemmy.dbzer0.com ⁨3⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago
  Daily around 3 or 4 am (I can sort of control it by doing it within a timeframe.)
  
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  - mrnobody@reddthat.com ⁨3⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago
    Really??? That’s insane it resets so much! Who is your ISP?
    
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frongt@lemmy.zip ⁨3⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago
Yes it’s possible. You can buy a domain name and then do literally nothing else if you want.

If it’s just for LAN use, you don’t even need to buy a domain name. You can use anything under the home.arpa, test, or internal TLDs. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special-use_domain_name

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Nikki@lemmy.blahaj.zone ⁨3⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago
i have a little program for dynamic dns running in docker that checks every few seconds for an IP change and swaps my DNS records if it gets rerolled.

works well on my home network, I can use my domain for all my private services local and remote through wireguard :)

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IsoKiero@sopuli.xyz ⁨3⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago
I have dynamic dns address and a handful of CNAME records on my domains pointing on that dyndns-address so I can use ‘proper’ names with my services. When my public IP changes it takes a few minutes for the records to update, but it usually happens only when my router reboots so it’s been good enough for me.

Also I use two separate dyndns providers so there’s likely at least one working DNS entry to my network.

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