Am I Famous Now…

Due to a problem Danalyn had with her dedicated server, I thought it was better time to jump one in the automatic cron job backup series and immediately jump to the entry with the full cpanel backup instead of just the files.
This automated backup will not only backup your databases for every site configured in your cpanel, but also all the files you host on your webspace.

And to make everything even more fun, this will be a series of several posts, with today the first one : howto use DynDNS¹ to find your home computer easily.
In further entries we’ll touch the topic of setting up an FTP server on your home computer (with Windows XP Professional) and how to backup your full CPanel with a cron job.

This howto has 3 parts : first how to give your own home/computer a url or domain using DynDNS then how to setup Windows XP as home FTP server and finally the script to (cron) backup your CPanel.

Howto configure DynDNS

DynDNS provides a free² service allowing everyone with a dynamic IP to configure a domain for that IP. People with a fix IP can use StaticDNS.
When you use DynDNS you can easily find your home location, your computer in the wild world web, even if your ISP changes your IP with login.

Once you’ve signed up and chosen your hoster (domain you want to use) you will need to update the DNS for your location. DynDNS offer a free and easy to use DNSUpdate client for Windows. Alternatively your router may already be have a DynDNS option on board like Netgear routers.
Now you’ll have to forward the incoming traffic to your computer, we call this port forwarding. Probably you’ll find a manual for your device at Portforward.com. If your device is not listed, check the earlier models of the same brand, they will probaby give you enough of tips how to set portforwarding up in your router.
For our use we need Port 21² in both TCP and UDP mode.

Now we’ve set up DynDNS and forwarded the port FTP to our target home computer.

In the next entry we’ll learn how to configure an FTP server under Windows XP Professional and for the Windows XP Home users, I’ll provide a short list of FTP server software under Windows.

¹ Use StaticDNS if you have a fix IP at home.
² Your home computer will function as FTP host.