AZ Geeks: Static vs Dynamic IP address- discuss

[ctenidae]

In order to accomodate an office-related VOIP phone system, we're converting our house from dynamic to static IP. Aside from being able to host a website (we have 5 addresses, only need 1- anyone want a web site? Low rates!), anything "cool" that can be done now that we have static IPs?

I fully expect the answer to be no, but if we're in a super secret cool club now, I'd appreciate someone teaching me the handshake.

 

[Nick]

I have security cameras setup at my house but thats with dyndns... I'm sure there is more cool stuff but also new security risks.

 

[andyzee]

I use mac address, layer 2 connectivity, IPs are too easily spoofed.

 

[gmcunni]

i'm waiting for IPv6

with regard to what to do with your static.. set up a proxy and we'll all surf AZ from your IP so you get credit(or blame) for what happens...

 

[Nick]

You can already take advantage of IPV6, can't you?

 

[Geoff]

I have security cameras setup at my house but thats with dyndns... I'm sure there is more cool stuff but also new security risks.

dyndns works great if the IP address doesn't churn too often. I've run into Time-Warner footprint (former Adelphia properties) where the DHCP lease was set to 2 hours and it always allocated a new IP address on the renew. When it churns like that, you're always using stale IP addresses from the DNS cache.

 

[Nick]

Yeah I had to adjust my IP for the camera recently, I'm still learning about all this networking side of the house a bit.

 

[bvibert]

As long as you can hook up your garage door opener to it then it doesn't matter...

 

[WJenness]

In order to accomodate an office-related VOIP phone system, we're converting our house from dynamic to static IP. Aside from being able to host a website (we have 5 addresses, only need 1- anyone want a web site? Low rates!), anything "cool" that can be done now that we have static IPs?

I fully expect the answer to be no, but if we're in a super secret cool club now, I'd appreciate someone teaching me the handshake.

An easier question to ask is 'what do you want to accomplish'?

Things I've done in the past include having an SFTP site set up on a Linux box that I dumped a bunch of music / other files I might need on so that I can get to them wherever I am, Hosting my own mail server, site to site VPN setups, and more.

Static IPs are a nice bonus, but unless you have a goal, it doesn't really matter.

-w

 

[Geoff]

An easier question to ask is 'what do you want to accomplish'?

Things I've done in the past include having an SFTP site set up on a Linux box that I dumped a bunch of music / other files I might need on so that I can get to them wherever I am, Hosting my own mail server, site to site VPN setups, and more.

Static IPs are a nice bonus, but unless you have a goal, it doesn't really matter.

-w

As Nick pointed out, you don't need to shell out the bucks for a business static IP address. Instead, you subscribe to a service where you update your IP address to DNS whenever it changes. For most people, it doesn't change very often and the world doesn't end if you can't get at your services for a little while after the IP address changes and the DNS caches in the network haven't expired yet.

If were a corporate drone sitting in a cube, I'd VPN to my home machine for all internet and personal email access. I don't want some IT troll pulling up a report on my web surfing habits.

 

[bvibert]

If were a corporate drone sitting in a cube, I'd VPN to my home machine for all internet and personal email access. I don't want some IT troll pulling up a report on my web surfing habits.

I've always considered doing that, but I wonder if the VPN connection would attract more attention than it's worth?

 

[ctenidae]

Some good points here- thanks. Bottom line, I think, is "whatever." Doesn't seem to be anything in particular fun or interesting to do with a static IP. I just set up a home network storage server (Western Digital My Book) that, once I register it, I can access remotely. We're using it for storing music and photos and such, so nothing exciting (or sensitive).

As for not needing it- that's what I thought, but the guy setting up the phone system (my wife's office) said we needed it. Perhpas a waste of $25/month, but the speeds are higher than residential (30mbps vs 15, not that we use anywhere near that, anyway), and I have a theory that we get priority access to the network over our neighbors. We'll see, though with our useage patterns (streaming Netflix at 6am, basic remote-to-PC during the day, and basic internet surfing at night) it's unlikely we'll even notice.

 

[WJenness]

I don't want some IT troll pulling up a report on my web surfing habits.

I am that IT troll... so I'm not very worried about it.

I am the only IT guy here too... so really, not much to worry about.

Yawn.

-w

 

[mondeo]

I've always considered doing that, but I wonder if the VPN connection would attract more attention than it's worth?

Or if the VPN would even be allowed.

And at this point, that's what my cell phone's for.

 

[Nick]

I have a NAS device I bought a few years ago ... a 1.5tb RAID1 (I think, they are mirrored) NAS device.

I have the feeling in about a year or less I will be transferring everything from that drive to a cloud drive. Google Docs is already getting awfully close to being able to operate in that capacity for me, particularly when I use a tool like Gladinet to access it which actually creates a "drive" on your computer that is your Google Docs account.

I really like the idea of keeping everything away from home.You know, in case my house ever burns down :lol:

 

[mondeo]

I have a NAS device I bought a few years ago ... a 1.5tb RAID1 (I think, they are mirrored) NAS device.

I have the feeling in about a year or less I will be transferring everything from that drive to a cloud drive. Google Docs is already getting awfully close to being able to operate in that capacity for me, particularly when I use a tool like Gladinet to access it which actually creates a "drive" on your computer that is your Google Docs account.

I really like the idea of keeping everything away from home.You know, in case my house ever burns down :lol:

Bandwidth would be key for me if I had anything I wanted to go with a NAS with in the first place. Music it may be fine for, but if I want to do something like have a single hard drive that programs are installed on and then accessed by networked computers, or movies, etc., then a cloud solution doesn't particularly work that well. Thinking about doing a HTPC in the future that also has a largish RAID10 array to serve that purpose with. Anything so critical that would be an issue losing should the house burned down, I wouldn't want to be storing on an internet accessible drive anyways. The security risk would probably be greater than the house burning down risk. Should probably get a fire safe at some point, and then do periodic backups onto an external drive.