Dynamic DNS, tracking and notifying


Dynamic DNS is a popular way of running servers without a static IP address. If you'd like to monitor your server remotely and you're using Dynamic DNS to do this, MultiPing can now handle that job.

MultiPing can track dynamic DNS changes (it won't initiate them).

Setting it up

Most targets don't need to be tracked, so you'll need to manually configure tracking. This is done through the alert system.

First, set up the alert (Edit -> Alert Setup...) - something like this:

Pick the "Method" as IP Address Change, and then edit the frequency you'd like to have a target checked.

From here, you can also set up Alert Events, so you can be notified of any changes (through a tray icon popup, send an email, or any of the other alert methods supported by MultiPing).

Hit "OK" to save your alert.

Associate the alert to the target you want to watch

You're half done (well, maybe 3/4, but the last 1/4 is super-important).

Now, add your target to MultiPing (or find it in the list if you're already pinging it), and right-click the target. Select "Watch this target (alerts)...".  Move your new alert from Available to Selected, then close that.

That's it!

What happens when an IP changes

For any target that is being monitored for changes, if/when it does change, a note will be added to the time graph in MultiPing mentioning the original and new IP address.

If you have any events set up, these will be called.

The IP address for the target will change - even if you scroll back before the point of the change.  You can look at the comments to see the changes.

Notes

Only targets that are being monitored by this type of alert will be checked for IP address changes.

Only targets that were entered with a name will be checked (if you entered an IP address, there's not much chance the IP will change from that, right?).