DDNS overview

Starting in NiagaraAX-3.1, a Niagara host can be configured to use DDNS (Dynamic Domain Name Service), allowing it to be accessed over the Internet using a specific domain name (vs. a static IP address). Currently, a service account with TZO (Tzolkin Corporation) is required. (However, see opening Note).

For example, to use a browser to connect over the Internet to the station running on a JACE, you could use the browser URL:

http://myjace.tzo.com

Or, for a platform connection to that same JACE using Workbench platform tools, you would use that same domain name (instead of IP address), as shown in Figure 1 below.

Figure 1. Platform connection using DDNS address.

The actual IP address used by the JACE is “dynamically assigned” by the ISP, whether connected via a cable/DSL modem, or even using a dialup. Sometimes, this IP address may change from day-to-day, or possibly every few hours. The DDNS provider (TZO) does the necessary “lookup work” to resolve the currently assigned IP address to the static “known” domain name.