Dynamic IP updater tool - how does it work if the computer its running on is not on the network ?

[levene.sam]

Im setting up openDNS for a 3rd party on a home fibre broadband connection that has a dynamic IP. Im aware of the Dynamic IP updater tool that you can run on a computer that will update openDNS of the changed the IP, but i have some questions as to how reliable this is as i dont want to be called back for the system not working : 

- I would load the dynamic IP updater software onto both of the parents laptops, but what if those laptops are not on the network for a period of time ie. the parents go on holiday, then if the IP changed whilst they were away would the content filtering stop working ? (i understand that if the IP is not correct the network would still use openDNS as, but the content filtering would not be applied is that correct ?)

- The other thing relates to the 10 minute update of the dynamic IP, what would happen if at 13:00 the desktop client updates the dynamic IP, then at 13:01 for some reason the ISP assigns the network a new dynamic IP would that mean for the next 9 minutes (until the dynamic IP desktop tool updates again) the content filtering would not be working ?

We are looking into options to upgrade their connection to a Business connection and thus we will then be able to get a static IP, but im not sure how quickly we will be able to do this.

[rotblitz]

"i understand that if the IP is not correct the network would still use openDNS as, but the content filtering would not be applied is that correct ?"

This is correct.  Therefore, never use an Updater on a roaming device.  It would update the dashboard network with any irrelevant IP address, wherever the roaming device will be.  An exception may be Marc's Updater (https://updater.marc-hoersken.de/) where you are possibly able to determine when and where updates should take effect.

And this 10 minute interval is rather irrelevant.  Firstly, the IP address change might not happen when somebody is online in the network, and secondly, the local cashes are almost more persistent than you think they are and will deliver results captured before.

You do not have to use this Updater.  Your best bet is to run an Updater on the router which knows and notifies IP address changes in real-time, and which is always in the network it has to keep updated.  I do it this way.  Or use another device within the network which is always on and has a DDNS update client built-in.

[rotblitz]

"the local cashes"

Sorry, I meant the local caches, local resolver cache and browser cache.

[gbee7k]

why does sky routers no allow opendns to be configured?

[rotblitz]

Interesting aspect about the topic "Dynamic IP updater tool".  Immediately related to sky routers, of course...  :(

Please move on and open your own thread, preferably in a Sky forum, because this site is for OpenDNS belongings, not for Sky router issues.

[levene.sam]

Thanks @rotblitz , you mentioned a dynamic IP updater that can be run on the router, we are using a netgear FVS318G router in this setup. Do you know how to set this on that router ?

[rotblitz]

As can be seen from your manual (http://www.downloads.netgear.com/files/products/FVS318G/Documentation/RM/FVS318G_RM_27Aug10.pdf) from page 2-11, your router does not support OpenDNS, DNS-O-Matic or "user defined" Dynamic DNS updates, so cannot be used to update OpenDNS.

[levene.sam]

I have had a read through that and although dosent support  OpenDNS or DNS-O-Mat it dose supprt a handful of others including DynDNS.org, TZO.com, Oray.net, 3322.org would any of those allow me to update openDNS when my dynamic IP changes ?

[rotblitz]

No, these other services don't do it.  You would need support for one of OpenDNS, DNS-O-Matic or "user defined".  And there is no alternative firmware available for your router.  Do you have another device like a NAS, DVR, IP camera, etc. with a built-in DDNS update client which would allow for one of the mentioned services?