A Hands-On Guide to Advanced FreeNAS Server Configurations

Create an FTP Server

Just as their names imply, a static IP address never changes, while a dynamic IP address does. (The concept of dynamic IP addresses came about because Internet Protocol version 4, or IPv4, was running out of unique addresses. The newer IPv6 has an all but inexhaustible inventory of addresses, but it’s still rolling out.)

The difference between dynamic and static IP address types is unnoticeable--until you try to access your server while you’re on the road, or you attempt to set up an FTP server for file sharing. If your server doesn’t have a fixed IP address, you won't be able to access it via the Internet reliably because its address might change. Fortunately, you have a workaround that’s much less expensive than paying for a bunch of static IP addresses.

Once you’ve signed up with a dynamic-DNS service, log in to your FreeNAS configuration screen, click Services, and then select Dynamic DNS. Choose your service provider from the drop-down list, enter your domain name, and enter the username and password for your dynamic-DNS account. The update period is the interval--measured in seconds--at which your FreeNAS server will update your dynamic-DNS service provider with its IP address. Contact your service provider for a recommendation, as updating too frequently could get you blacklisted.