DynDNS on OpenWrt: step-by-step setup
OpenWrt's Dynamic DNS package (ddns-scripts) supports any custom DynDNS2 provider. With DNS Beacon your router keeps your network reachable under a permanent hostname even when your IP changes. Here's how to configure it.
Step by step
- Open the admin interface of your OpenWrt and go to Services → Dynamic DNS.
- Enter the values below. Your username is your account email, your password is an API key from the dashboard.
- Save the settings. Your hostname now updates automatically whenever your IP changes — usually within a minute.
Settings to enter
Services → Dynamic DNS
- Provider:
- -- custom --
- Update URL:
- https://api.dnsbeacon.com/nic/update?hostname=[DOMAIN]&myip=[IP]
- Domain name:
- myhouse.dnsfollowme.uk
- Username:
- your email address
- Password:
- your API key
- IPv6:
- Add a second DDNS configuration with IP address version IPv6 (use_ipv6), using &myipv6=[IP] instead of &myip=[IP] in its update URL.
Install the luci-app-ddns package first (System → Software, or opkg install luci-app-ddns ddns-scripts). OpenWrt substitutes [DOMAIN] and [IP] in the URL automatically.
IPv4 or IPv6?
The values above update the IPv4 address (A record) — the normal case on connections with their own public IPv4. For IPv6 (AAAA record) the device sends the parameter &myipv6=<IPv6> in addition or instead. How to do that on this device is in the "IPv6" row of the table.
DS-Lite or CGNAT (many cable and fibre connections): the router then has no public IPv4, and the service rejects a private WAN address with "abuse". In that case send only myipv6 — or use the DNS Beacon client directly on the target device, which detects both address families itself.
Need a free hostname first?
Create a free DNS Beacon account, add a hostname and generate an API key — then come back and finish the setup above.
Create free account