DynDNS on OPNsense: step-by-step setup
OPNsense handles Dynamic DNS through the os-ddclient plugin, which supports any custom DynDNS2 provider. With DNS Beacon your firewall stays reachable under a permanent hostname even when your WAN IP changes. Here's the setup.
Step by step
- Open the admin interface of your OPNsense and go to Services → Dynamic DNS → Settings.
- 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 → Settings
- Service type:
- Custom
- Server:
- api.dnsbeacon.com
- Username:
- your email address
- Password:
- your API key
- Hostname:
- myhouse.dnsfollowme.uk
- IPv6:
- Add a second account for IPv6 only: set "Check ip method" to an IPv6 service and enable "Allow IPv6" under General Settings.
Install the os-ddclient plugin first (System → Firmware → Plugins) and pick the Custom service — it sends standard DynDNS2 updates to /nic/update.
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