Dealing with a Dynamic IP(project concept)

[Detector]

I am looking for some advise/suggestions/alternatives to a project that deals with Dynamic IP issues. I have Swbell ADSL at home and hence my project.

Prereq: I want to host a web-based game on my home PC that has a Dynamic IP address, but I need some way to supply the ever changing address of the server.

PROJECT:
Supply a Click-able URL at my web site that updates if my home IP changes.

CONCEPT:
A VB app that runs on my game server watching for a change in the EXTERNAL IP, and then updates the URL on my web page to reflect the change. I'm thinking Java script on my web page that my local VB app hits to obtain the EXTERNAL IP. The VB app would test for a change in the IP, and then update the web site pages URL for the game.

Ideas? Suggestions? better concepts?

Thanks.

[sotoasty]

Give us a bit more info on your web site. Do you have a database there? What scripting languages do you use/have available to you. I would suggest that you have a page on your website that only you go to. On your "Home" game server, run a vb app that opens that web page once an hour or if you detect a external IP Change. This web page would check the headers to find out the new IP and store it in a database. On your main URL page, all you would have to do is pull the IP out of the database for you link.

Or you could set up a Dynamic DNS account with someone like

HR.ORG

or

afraid.org

Good luck with your project.
Roger

[Detector]

Thanks sotoasty. I have thought about using a DDNS service, but I would rather not be dependent on any outside sources other than my ISP.

Heres the details. I use swbell(ADSL) where I plan to host the page that keeps the updated URL to my game server which is on a server at home(dynamic IP). I want my VB app(running on my home server) to check my external IP by hitting a java script? on the page at swbell. If the IP has changed, then my app would change the posted game URL so they just need to click the URL to join my game(server at home).

[TheCPUWizard]

While there are many methods that can work,be aware that most services explicitly prohibit "hosting" on residential accounts.

The local cable company here did a sweep in early March for users responding to on-solicited requests on common ports (21, 80, etc) and shutdown a large number of subscribers, informing them that they had to use a "business" account if they were going to be hosting.