From 55af2b4c9d226da69a76c4e987a078ebd5d081c5 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Bob Mottram Date: Tue, 29 Nov 2016 10:42:07 +0000 Subject: [PATCH] Guide on domain names --- doc/EN/beaglebone.org | 2 + doc/EN/domains.org | 52 ++++++ doc/EN/homeserver.org | 2 +- website/EN/beaglebone.html | 6 +- website/EN/domains.html | 346 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ website/EN/homeserver.html | 4 +- 6 files changed, 408 insertions(+), 4 deletions(-) create mode 100644 doc/EN/domains.org create mode 100644 website/EN/domains.html diff --git a/doc/EN/beaglebone.org b/doc/EN/beaglebone.org index c1908fe7..555bbf63 100644 --- a/doc/EN/beaglebone.org +++ b/doc/EN/beaglebone.org @@ -33,6 +33,8 @@ You will need: * A microSD card at least 8 gigabytes in size. In tests Sandisk class 10 works well. Prefer smaller but faster I/O rating to larger but slower. * A microSD card adaptor for your laptop or desktop system, so that you can copy the disk image to the card. +You may need to obtain a domain name and set up a dynamic DNS account for your new Freedombone server. Details on how to do that [[./domains.html][can be found here]]. + On your laptop or desktop prepare a microSD card image as follows. To create an image on a Debian based system: #+begin_src bash diff --git a/doc/EN/domains.org b/doc/EN/domains.org new file mode 100644 index 00000000..68170617 --- /dev/null +++ b/doc/EN/domains.org @@ -0,0 +1,52 @@ +#+TITLE: +#+AUTHOR: Bob Mottram +#+EMAIL: bob@freedombone.net +#+KEYWORDS: freedombone, domains, dynamic dns +#+DESCRIPTION: How to obtain a domain name +#+OPTIONS: ^:nil toc:nil +#+HTML_HEAD: + +#+BEGIN_CENTER +[[file:images/logo.png]] +#+END_CENTER + +#+begin_export html +

How to get a domain

+#+end_export + +* The domain name itself + +If you want your sites or chat systems to be available via an ordinary web browser (i.e. not a Tor browser) then you'll need to obtain a domain name. The domain name system is ultimately controlled by ICANN and to obtain a domain name for which you can also get a TLS certificate you'll need to buy one. There are various sites which sell domain names, and fortunately they can often be quite cheap - especially if you can think of an obscure name for your site. Prefer sites where the domain name subscription can be automatically renewed, because otherwise trolls can quickly buy your domain when it expires and then hold it for ransom. If you're planning to self-host for more than an ephemeral purpose, such as a conference or festival, then choose the longest subscription period you can afford (typically a few years). + +You probably only need one ICANN domain name and then the various Freedombone apps you might want can be set up on subdomains, such as /blog.mydomainname.net/. + +* Dynamic DNS + +You will also need a dynamic DNS account, and again this might be something you have to pay a subscription for. Your Freedombone system will have a local network address (typically 192.168.x.y or 10.x.y.z) and also a public IP address assigned by your ISP. Your ISP will change your public IP address every so often (that's why it's called "dynamic") and so there needs to be some way to link the domain name which you've obtained to your changing public IP address. That's what the dynamic DNS service does. + +In simple terms what happens is that on a regular basis the Freedombone system will ping the dynamic DNS service and say "/this is my current public IP address/", so that the mapping between domain name and IP address can be maintained. + +The dynamic DNS service will have their own DNS servers maintaining the IP address mappings and so on the web site where you registered your domain name you will need to specify the servers of the your dynamic DNS account. Look for an option such as "/change nameservers/" or "/custom nameservers/", remove any names which might already be there and then add the servers used by the dynamic DNS service. For example, if you're using FreeDNS then these servers would be: + +#+begin_src text +NS1.AFRAID.ORG +NS2.AFRAID.ORG +NS3.AFRAID.ORG +NS4.AFRAID.ORG +#+end_src + +It might take a few minutes for the changes to take effect, so don't be too hasty to conclude that it doesn't work. + +** Configuring with FreeDNS + +If you are using FreeDNS as a dynamic DNS provider then on their site select "/Domains/" and add your domain name (this might only be available to paid subscribers). Make sure that they're marked as "/private/" so that subdomains of your domain name are not used by other users of the site. + +Select "Subdomains" from the menu on the left then select the MX entry for your domain and change the destination to *10:mydomainname* rather than *10:mail.mydomainname*. + +* Setting up with Freedombone + +When you start the base installation of the system it will ask you to choose a dynamic DNS provider and then enter the login details for the dynamic DNS service. + +* A note about Tor + +If you only want your sites to be available via Tor then none of the above is needed and you can access your sites and systems via their onion addresses. Tor has its own naming system which is independent from ICANN, and you also won't need TLS/SSL certificates since it also manages transport encryption itself. When building disk images use the *--onion yes* option, or choose one of the ready made onion disk images [[./downloads][from downloads]]. diff --git a/doc/EN/homeserver.org b/doc/EN/homeserver.org index 3fc48793..1c22eb9f 100644 --- a/doc/EN/homeserver.org +++ b/doc/EN/homeserver.org @@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ freedombone-client [[file:images/tor_onion.jpg]] #+END_CENTER -The version in which sites are available only via onion addresses is the easiest to get started with, since you can evaluate the system without committing to buying an ICANN domain name or needing to get involved with SSL/TLS certificates at all. However, if you do want your sites to be available typically as subdomains of a domain name which you own then remove the *--onion yes* option from the last command shown above. +The version in which sites are available only via onion addresses is the easiest to get started with, since you can evaluate the system without committing to buying an ICANN domain name or needing to get involved with SSL/TLS certificates at all. However, if you do want your sites to be available typically as subdomains of a domain name which you own then remove the *--onion yes* option from the last command shown above. Also see the [[./domains.html][guide on setting up an ICANN domain name]]. If you want to create images for microSD cards used within various single board computers then replace the *i386* with *beaglebone* / *cubieboard2* / *cubietruck* / *a20-olinuxino-lime* / *a20-olinuxino-lime2* / *a20-olinuxino-micro* or *apu*. diff --git a/website/EN/beaglebone.html b/website/EN/beaglebone.html index 9831ca41..427d8a85 100644 --- a/website/EN/beaglebone.html +++ b/website/EN/beaglebone.html @@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> - + @@ -276,6 +276,10 @@ You will need:
  • A microSD card adaptor for your laptop or desktop system, so that you can copy the disk image to the card.
    • +

    +You may need to obtain a domain name and set up a dynamic DNS account for your new Freedombone server. Details on how to do that can be found here. +

    +

    On your laptop or desktop prepare a microSD card image as follows. To create an image on a Debian based system:

    diff --git a/website/EN/domains.html b/website/EN/domains.html new file mode 100644 index 00000000..ef75b0fd --- /dev/null +++ b/website/EN/domains.html @@ -0,0 +1,346 @@ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
    + +
    +
    +
    + +
    +

    logo.png +

    +
    +
    + +

    How to get a domain

    + +
    +

    The domain name itself

    +
    +

    +If you want your sites or chat systems to be available via an ordinary web browser (i.e. not a Tor browser) then you'll need to obtain a domain name. The domain name system is ultimately controlled by ICANN and to obtain a domain name for which you can also get a TLS certificate you'll need to buy one. There are various sites which sell domain names, and fortunately they can often be quite cheap - especially if you can think of an obscure name for your site. Prefer sites where the domain name subscription can be automatically renewed, because otherwise trolls can quickly buy your domain when it expires and then hold it for ransom. If you're planning to self-host for more than an ephemeral purpose, such as a conference or festival, then choose the longest subscription period you can afford (typically a few years). +

    + +

    +You probably only need one ICANN domain name and then the various Freedombone apps you might want can be set up on subdomains, such as blog.mydomainname.net. +

    +
    +
    + +
    +

    Dynamic DNS

    +
    +

    +You will also need a dynamic DNS account, and again this might be something you have to pay a subscription for. Your Freedombone system will have a local network address (typically 192.168.x.y or 10.x.y.z) and also a public IP address assigned by your ISP. Your ISP will change your public IP address every so often (that's why it's called "dynamic") and so there needs to be some way to link the domain name which you've obtained to your changing public IP address. That's what the dynamic DNS service does. +

    + +

    +In simple terms what happens is that on a regular basis the Freedombone system will ping the dynamic DNS service and say "this is my current public IP address", so that the mapping between domain name and IP address can be maintained. +

    + +

    +The dynamic DNS service will have their own DNS servers maintaining the IP address mappings and so on the web site where you registered your domain name you will need to specify the servers of the your dynamic DNS account. Look for an option such as "change nameservers" or "custom nameservers", remove any names which might already be there and then add the servers used by the dynamic DNS service. For example, if you're using FreeDNS then these servers would be: +

    + +
    +
    NS1.AFRAID.ORG
+NS2.AFRAID.ORG
+NS3.AFRAID.ORG
+NS4.AFRAID.ORG
+
    +
    + +

    +It might take a few minutes for the changes to take effect, so don't be too hasty to conclude that it doesn't work. +

    +
    + +
    +

    Configuring with FreeDNS

    +
    +

    +If you are using FreeDNS as a dynamic DNS provider then on their site select "Domains" and add your domain name (this might only be available to paid subscribers). Make sure that they're marked as "private" so that subdomains of your domain name are not used by other users of the site. +

    + +

    +Select "Subdomains" from the menu on the left then select the MX entry for your domain and change the destination to 10:mydomainname rather than 10:mail.mydomainname. +

    +
    +
    +
    + +
    +

    Setting up with Freedombone

    +
    +

    +When you start the base installation of the system it will ask you to choose a dynamic DNS provider and then enter the login details for the dynamic DNS service. +

    +
    +
    + +
    +

    A note about Tor

    +
    +

    +If you only want your sites to be available via Tor then none of the above is needed and you can access your sites and systems via their onion addresses. Tor has its own naming system which is independent from ICANN, and you also won't need TLS/SSL certificates since it also manages transport encryption itself. When building disk images use the –onion yes option, or choose one of the ready made onion disk images from downloads. +

    +
    +
    +
    +
    + + + +
    +Back to top | E-mail me +
    +
    + + diff --git a/website/EN/homeserver.html b/website/EN/homeserver.html index 5d1d1ec3..bd023487 100644 --- a/website/EN/homeserver.html +++ b/website/EN/homeserver.html @@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> - + @@ -296,7 +296,7 @@ Now prepare your local system to talk to the freedombone by running the followin

    -The version in which sites are available only via onion addresses is the easiest to get started with, since you can evaluate the system without committing to buying an ICANN domain name or needing to get involved with SSL/TLS certificates at all. However, if you do want your sites to be available typically as subdomains of a domain name which you own then remove the –onion yes option from the last command shown above. +The version in which sites are available only via onion addresses is the easiest to get started with, since you can evaluate the system without committing to buying an ICANN domain name or needing to get involved with SSL/TLS certificates at all. However, if you do want your sites to be available typically as subdomains of a domain name which you own then remove the –onion yes option from the last command shown above. Also see the guide on setting up an ICANN domain name.