Setting up a server on your own hardware, from home, using dynamic dns

2022-12-12T16:10:00Z

I don't know why I left it so long to figure out how to do this. Yes, running everything yourself on a home connection is less stable than using a hosted service. But in the spirit of making the internet more chaotic, and a bit grungier, let's do this.

My set-up is quite specific. I bought (though rented is more correct) a domain, example.com, through my regular domain registrar. I want to run a subdomain, server.example.com, from hardware under the tv. I do not have a static ip, so I'm going to need a dynamic dns provider. I'm using dynv6, because they were the first provider recommended to me. (The irony being that in the course of this project I discovered my ISP (Internet Service Provider)'s router doesn't let me use ipv6 at all.) The hardware is something I don't want to talk about right now, but it's a linux box running a variant of debian. And I'm also using a hosted email provider that lets you bring your own domain. All accounts created and services paid for. But how does it all go together?

Step 1; Create the subdomain, and delegate it

( Details )

Step 2; Set up your hardware on your network

( Details )

Step 3; Set up `ddclient` on your hardware

( Details )

Step 4; Optionally test it's all working

( Details )

Step 5; Optionally set up email DNS records as well

( Details )

Step 6; Install your server software | Choose your own adventure style

Whatever you are planning on doing, like apache2 or nginx, do it here. Also now is a time to think about things like iptables.

Step 7; Optionally run `certbot`

( Details )

Step finally;

Enjoy running your server!

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Busy hands | Disquiet mind

Setting up a server on your own hardware, from home, using dynamic dns

Step 1; Create the subdomain, and delegate it

Step 2; Set up your hardware on your network

Step 3; Set up ddclient on your hardware

Step 4; Optionally test it's all working

Step 5; Optionally set up email DNS records as well

Step 6; Install your server software | Choose your own adventure style

Step 7; Optionally run certbot

Step finally;

Step 3; Set up `ddclient` on your hardware

Step 7; Optionally run `certbot`