WAN IPv4 checker & email notifier for server environments behind dynamic IP address.
WAN IPv4 checker & email notifier for computer environments behind dynamic IP address.
## About
## About
In many home networks, WAN (Wide Area Network) IP addresses are dynamically allocated by a local ISP. Usually this is acceptable in common household/home use, but not in server use where static DHCP lease/static IP address is very much a mandatory requirement.
In many home networks, WAN (Wide Area Network) IP addresses are dynamically allocated by a local ISP. Usually this is acceptable in common household/home use, but not in server use where static DHCP lease/static IP address is very much a mandatory requirement.
However, static IPs are usually offered only to corporate environments, and not everyone wants to pay extra for such in order to establish a simple server environment in home.
If configuring a static WAN IP is not an option to you, consider setting up a simple notifier which let's you know when your WAN IP address changes.
This repository contains a systemd service file & a simple bash script to refresh current WAN IPv4 of a Linux server, and notify server admins for any changes in the server WAN IPv4 (Internet) address. This helps in several issues:
Static IPs are usually offered only to corporate environments, and not everyone wants to pay extra for such in order to establish a simple server environment in home.
- Server admins are always aware of the current server IPv4 address, whether the address is dynamic or not.
This repository contains a Systemd service & a simple bash script to refresh current WAN IPv4 of a Linux computer, and notify administration for any changes in the WAN IPv4 (Internet) address. This method addresses to several issues:
- Server admins are able to remotely connect to the server environment although the server IP has been changed. This is possible because admins are notified about any WAN IPv4 address changes via email by the server itself, automatically.
- Administreation is always aware of the current server IPv4 address, whether the address is dynamic or not.
## Requirements
- Administration is able to remotely connect to the server environment although the server IP has been changed. This is possible because admins are notified about any WAN IPv4 address changes via email by the server itself, automatically.
## Failure countermeasures
The WAN IP checker script has several countermeasures for the following failures:
- **DNS name resolution fails**: DNS servers defined in `/etc/resolv.conf` can not be contacted
- Fall back to DNS servers listed in [wanchecker.sh](ssmtp_conf-sample/wanchecker.sh)
- A server computer of any kind
- **Sending email fails**
- Attempt several times until informing that sending an email message has failed
------------
## Requirements
- Linux OS
- Linux OS
@ -24,43 +38,89 @@ This repository contains a systemd service file & a simple bash script to refres
- Default log file location `/var/spool/mail/ip_wan.log` is defined in this file. The log file is updated only when WAN IPv4 changes have been detected.
## Manual installation & configuration
**1)** Install `ssmtp` package
**1)** Install `ssmtp` package
**2)** Configure files `/etc/ssmtp/revaliases` ([sample](ssmtp_conf-sample/revaliases)) and `/etc/ssmtp/ssmtp.conf` ([sample](ssmtp_conf-sample/ssmtp.conf)). More information about these files on [sSMTP Arch Wiki site](https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/SSMTP).
**3)** Configure `sSMTP` files `/etc/ssmtp/revaliases` ([sample](ssmtp_conf-sample/revaliases)), `/etc/ssmtp/ssmtp.conf` ([sample](ssmtp_conf-sample/ssmtp.conf)). More information about these files on [sSMTP Arch Wiki site](https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/SSMTP).
- WAN IP check interval is customizable in systemd timer file. Default value is `20min`
## Arch Linux installation & configuration
- This log file is updated only when WAN IPv4 changes have been detected
**1)** Use provided [PKGBUILD](arch_linux/PKGBUILD) file
**6)** Run (as root or with `sudo`)
**2)** Configure files `/etc/ssmtp/revaliases` ([sample](ssmtp_conf-sample/revaliases)) and `/etc/ssmtp/ssmtp.conf` ([sample](ssmtp_conf-sample/ssmtp.conf)). More information about these files on [sSMTP Arch Wiki site](https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/SSMTP).
**5) (optional)** Install [resolvconf-override](https://github.com/hadess/resolvconf-override). Use provided Arch Linux [PKGBUILD file](arch_linux/resolvconf-override/PKGBUILD).
----------
## Images
## Images
When server computer discovers a change in its WAN IPv4, it automatically sends an email notification to system administrator(s):
When server computer discovers a change in its WAN IPv4, it automatically sends an email notification to system administrator(s):
@ -80,11 +144,11 @@ Additionally, server computer keeps a log file which include WAN IPv4 changes an
## Useful commands
## Useful commands
- `systemctl --all list-timers` = list all system timers on Linux system, including `wanchecker`
- `systemctl --all list-timers` = list all system timers on Linux system, including `wanchecker` timer
- `systemctl is-active wanchecker.timer` = tells whether `wanchecker` is running or not
- `systemctl is-active wanchecker.timer` = tells whether `wanchecker`timer is running or not
- `systemctl status wanchecker.timer` = more compherensive output about the status of `wanchecker`
- `systemctl status wanchecker.timer` = more compherensive output about the status of `wanchecker` timer
Pekka Helenius
4 years ago