inadyn-mt - Simple DYNAMIC DNS client.

Version 02.12.24, July 2008

INADYN Advanced Help

INADYN Advanced is a dynamic DNS client. That is, it maintains the IP address of a host name. It periodically checks whether the IP address stored by the DNS server is the real current address of the machine that is running INADYN Advanced.

inadyn-mt 02.00.00 adds built in Windows service installation and management, connection event trapping, unicode, and a few other things.

inadyn-mt source, and binaries can be found at http://sourceforge.net/projects/inadyn-mt/

Download

Features:

• supports the following dynamic DNS services:
• dyndns.org (in all three flavors: dynamic, static, custom)
• freedns.afraid.org
• zoneedit.com
• no-ip.com
• 3322.org
• easydns.com
• maintains up multiple aliases of the same IP address
• runs as a service (Windows 2000/XP, Linux) sans MS utilities as of inadyn-mt ver. 02.00.00
• or runs as a console application
• updates the correct IP address even behind a NAT router.
• supports access via http proxy
• does not perform unnecessary updates.
• has 'install and forget it feature'. That is, after install one can completely forget about it. No maintenance required. (as long as no bugs are found;-)

1. As of version 02.00.00 inadyn-mt, MS service related files aren't needed (but, still work if desired). The program can be started as a service (Windows NT) without these files, either from the command line, or the Windows service interface after command line installation. The service is named 'inadyn-mt'.
   
   Install
   
   inadyn-mt -i ["My Service Description"]
   
   Installation gives a default registry setup. The registry entry can be found at:
   
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\CurrentControlSet\Control\Services\inadyn-mt
   
   Edit the Parameters\AppParameters default string value to customize to your dynamic dns system, and preferences. See below for a full list of parameters, or simply type the program name, with no commands to see a listing.
   
   Post installation configuration can also be done using the registry files method listed in step 2 below (edit the "mt" registry file for inadyn-mt -i install method).
   
   Start
   
   inadyn-mt -s
   
   Assuming a configuration file of say, d:\inadyn-mt\inadyn-mt.cfg, the service can be installed, and started from the command line, with:
   
   inadyn-mt -i ["My Service Description"] -s --input_file d:\inadyn-mt\inadyn-mt.cfg
   
   The optional service description command option is commited to Windows registry. Other parameters are not commited to the Windows registry, and still need setting up as listed in step 2 (edit the "mt" registry file for inadyn-mt -i install method), or by editing installation registry defaults directly, as described in Install section above.
   
   Command line parameters override registry, parameters. Configuration file parameters are inserted at point configuration file command appears.
   
   Exit
   
   inadyn-mt -e
   
   Uninstall
   
   inadyn-mt -x
   
   Restart (if the service is not running, this command will start it):
   
   inadyn-mt -r
   
   If it appears commands are not carried out according to parameters given on command line, try closing other service related programs such as the Windows Services interface.
   
   See inadyn-mt\bin\win32 for registry, and batch files named corresponding to the present program version, and function corresponding to registry, and batch files mentioned in the present html page. The batch files are convenient for service installation, or removal without the command line -- just double click.
   
   Windows 95/98
   
   This program runs on Windows 95/98 with no need of recompilation.
   
   For unicode compatibility on Windows 95/98, in MS VC6 Project Settings, C/C++ tab, define preprocessor definition, UNICOWS, link with unicows.lib, and place the dll, unicows.dll in program executable directory.
   
   
2. Edit the registry file with the correct name for your service (e.g. 'configure_inadyn-mt_service_dyndns.reg') in order to pass your username, password, aliases, and other params to inadyn-mt. After you have finished double click on the reg file.

   Notes:

   • The correct path to inadyn-mt binary has to be entered in the config file.
   • The log file is located in %System%\system32 by default
   • Beware of the double backslashes '\\' and the correct paths!
     

   After you have finished double click on the reg file.

3. Go to ControlPanel/AdministrativeTools/Services/inadyn-mt and START the service. Also make sure that the startup mode is 'automatic'.

1. No installation necessary. The inadyn-mt executable found in bin/linux/inadyn-mt is self contained and can be launched at any time
   

1. Put the binary somewhere in path (e.g. ~/bin),
   Start it with the following AppleScript saved as an Application and dragged to
   System Preferences -> Accounts -> Login Items:
   

   do shell script "~/bin/inadyn-mt -a HOST.dyndns.org -u USER -p PASSWORD"

   
   Alternatively, one can put it in the system startup scripts.

1. Adjust the makefile - change the architecture to yours. (e.g. solaris)
2. Recompile  - make clean all
   

Command line options

They are automatically printed if inadyn-mt gets wrong parameters or if --help option is used.

Typical usage:

-for dyndns.org system:
    inadyn-mt -u username -p password -a my.registered.name
-for freedns.afraid.org:
    inadyn-mt --dyndns_system default@freedns.afraid.org -a my.registered.name,hash -a anothername,hash2
    'hash' is extracted from the grab url batch file that is downloaded from freedns.afraid.org

Parameters:

'--help': help
'-h': help

'--username': your membername/ hash
'-u': your membername / hash

'--password': your password. Optional.
'-p': your password

'--alias': alias host name. this option can appear multiple times. (for each domain that has the same IP)
'-a': alias host name. this option can appear multiple times.

'--debug': debug level 1..7 (higher = more output)
'-d': debug level 1..7 (higher = more output).

'-i [quoted service description]': install service

'-s': start service

'-e': exit service

'-r': restart service

'-x': remove service

'--input_file': input file name that contains inadyn-mt command options (adds to those already present in the cmd line). The default configuration file name is '/etc/inadyn-mt.conf'. It is only used if inadyn-mt is called without any command line options. This allows inadyn-mt to be called without any arguments. The format is as expected for a **NIX config  file. See below for details.

'--ip_server_name[:port] url': The client IP is detected by calling 'url' from this 'ip_server_name:port'. Defaults to checkip.dyndns.org:80 /.

'--dyndns_server_name': [[:port]]

The server that receives the update DNS request.
If no proxy is wanted, then it is enough to set the dyndns system. The default servers will be taken.

'--dyndns_server_url'
full URL relative to DynDNS server root.

'--dyndns_system': [NAME] - optional DYNDNS service type. SHOULD be one of the following:

-For dyndns.org DNS system: dyndns@dyndns.org OR statdns@dyndns.org OR custom@dyndns.org.
-For freedns.afraid.org DNS system: default@freedns.afraid.org .
-For the servcie ofered by zoneedit.com: default@zoneedit.com. .
-For no-ip.com: default@no-ip.com
-For easydns.com: default@easydns.com
-For 3322.org: dyndns@3322.org
-For generic DNS system: custom@http_svr_basic_auth
DEFAULT value is intended for default service at dyndns.org: dyndns@dyndns.org

'--proxy_server': [NAME[:port]] - the http proxy server name and port. Default is none.
'--update_period': how often the IP is checked. The period is in [ms]. Default is about 1 min. Max is 10 days
'--update_period_sec': how often the IP is checked. The period is in [sec]. Default is about 1 min. Max is 10 days
'--forced_update_period': how often the IP is updated even if it is not changed. [in sec] If account cancelation is concern, it's safest to set this just beyond account inactivity cancelation period, as failed updates may cause forced update to be detected late.
'--log_file': log file path abd name
'--background': runs in background.  Output to syslog or to log file [if specified].
'--verbose': set dbg level. 0 to 5
'--iterations': set the number of DNS updates. Default is 0, which means infinity.
'--syslog': explicit set output to syslog. (e.g. /var/log/messages). Works on **NIX systems only.
'--change_persona uid[:gid]': After init changes user ID and group ID to the provided ones. This allows dropping unneeded [root] privileges after startup. Works for **NIX only.
'--exec': external command to exec after an IP update. Include the full path.
'--cache_dir': cache directory name. (e.g. /tmp/ddns). Defaults to /tmp on **NIX systems.
'--wildcard': enable domain wildcarding for dyndns.org, 3322.org, or easydns.com.
'--retries': network comm retry attempts. 0 to 100, default 0.
'--retry_interval': network comm miliseconds retry interval. 0 to 30,000, default 1,000.
'--lang_file': language file path, and file name. defaults to either ../inadyn-mt/lang/en.lng, or /etc/inadyn-mt/en.lng.

SPECIAL NOTE: Cache file :
There are two cache files: inadyn_time.cache and inadyn_ip.cache. They store the time and IP address when an update last occurred. Under **NIX systems, the cache directory defaults to /tmp, under windows it defaults to the directory where inadyn-mt.exe was launched. Both of these cache files must be maunally deleted if you ever change your dyndns provider.

Example usage:
1. Update every minute, in console mode, for a dyndns.org system.
inadyn-mt --username test --password test --update_period 60000 --alias test.homeip.net --alias my.second.domain

2. Update every minute, in demon mode (background task), with log file, of an dyndns.org address:
inadyn-mt --background -u test -p test --update_period 60000 --alias inarcis.homeip.net --alias my.second.domain --log_file inadyn_srv.log

3. Update every minute, in daemon mode, with configuration read from file of an address from freedns.afraid.org
Config file (can be placed anywhere, but in linux is convenient in default location: /etc/inadyn-mt.conf
Content of cfg file:
--update_period 60000
--alias test.homeip.net,hash_for_host1
--log_file /var/log/inadyn.log
--change_persona 10012 #to change to another user id after init. (less rights, more secure)
Launching of inadyn-mt does not need any params. It looks for /etc/inadyn.config

4. Freedns update in console
inadyn-mt --update_period 60000 --alias test.homeip.net,hash_for_host1 -a my.second.domain,hash2 --dyndns_system default@freedns.afraid.org

 


Configuration file
inadyn-mt can read the very same options which can be present in the command line from a configuration file. This feature allows the user to write the options only once, and avoids frequent retyping.
Default configuration file is /etc/inadyn.conf under Unix systems.
The location of the config file can be given to inadyn-mt via --input_file option

The format :
- '#' is a comment sign.
- the long options (those with '--' in front) can also be placed at the beginning of the line without '--' signs

Examples:
1.
#Some comment about  inadyn-mt  cfg file
--username test --password test --update_period 60000 --alias test.homeip.net --alias my.second.domain

2.
--username test #user
--password test
update_period 60000  #some other param without '--'
alias test.homeip.net

Ver. 1.4 - 1 March 2004
- Support for custom DNS and static DNS services offered by dyndns.org.
- support for forced IP update (so the account will not expire even though the IP never changes)

Ver. 1.35 - 04 february, 2004
- Bugfixes: - It supports AGAIN the multiple aliases for the same IP address
- Under Windows the OS signal handler is installed only once no matter if IP update errors occur

Ver. 1.34 - 6 Novemeber 2003
- first port *NIX (Linux)
- Linux version running as console app
- bugfixes

Ver. 1.2 - June 2003
- port to embedded system pSOS. Runs on the Remote management card.
Note:
No DNS support under pSOS -> input params are the IP addresses of the servers used (DynDNS, CGI)

Ver. 1.0 - 20 May 2003 - first stable version.
main features ready:

- DYNDNS client

- free
- works fine behind a NAT router
- runs fine as a service
- has a nice log file
- it is MINE ;)

Future plans:

- port to some other DNS services.