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Remote Access Setup Using DuckDNS and Clemson VPN

This guide explains how to set up remote SSH access to your local server using a Dynamic DNS (DDNS) service such as DuckDNS. It also includes instructions to automatically update your public IP address so you can reliably connect even if it changes.

Overview

  1. DuckDNS (or another DDNS provider) assigns your home server a persistent domain name (for example, example.duckdns.org).
  2. Cron and curl automatically keep your DuckDNS record updated with your current public IP address.
  3. Clemson VPN allows secure remote access when off-campus.
  4. SSH provides a secure connection to the server

Step 1: Set Up a DuckDNS Domain

  1. Go to https://www.duckdns.org

  2. Log in using a supported account (GitHub, Google, etc.).

  3. Create a new subdomain, for example:

    example.duckdns.org

  4. Copy your token — you will need it for the update script.

Step 2: Install Dependencies

Make sure both curl and cron are installed on your server:

sudo apt update
sudo apt install curl cron -y

Step 3: Set Up DuckDNS Update Script

  1. Create a new directory for DuckDNS:

    mkdir -p ~/duckdns
cd ~/duckdns

  2. Create the update script:

    nano duck.sh

  3. Paste the following code (replace with your DuckDNS domain and token):

    echo "url=https://www.duckdns.org/update?domains=example&token=YOUR_TOKEN&ip=" | curl -k -o ~/duckdns/duck.log -K -

  4. Save and make it executable:

    chmod 700 ~/duckdns/duck.sh

Step 4: Schedule Automatic Updates with Cron

Edit your crontab to run the update automatically:

crontab -e

Add these lines at the bottom:

*/5 * * * * ~/duckdns/duck.sh >/dev/null 2>&1
@reboot ~/duckdns/duck.sh >/dev/null 2>&1

This will:

  • Run the DuckDNS update every 5 minutes.
  • Run it once at boot to immediately refresh your IP.

To verify it’s running:

cat ~/duckdns/duck.log

Step 5: Connect via SSH

Once set up, you can SSH into your server using your DuckDNS address:

ssh user@example.duckdns.org

Replace user with your server’s username.

Step 6: Remote Access via Clemson VPN

When off-campus, use Clemson’s Cisco VPN (the same one used for iRoar and other Clemson services):

  1. Connect to the Clemson VPN using Cisco AnyConnect.

  2. After connecting, SSH into your server the same way as before:

    ssh user@example.duckdns.org

Optional: Use DuckDNS Docker Container Instead of the Script

DuckDNS also provides an official Docker container that handles automatic IP updates. You can find the docker image here: DuckDNS Docker Image