Do you need a domain name if you are hosting a Lemmy instance, or will it work fine with just an ip-address + port (e.g. <username>@<ip-address>:<port>)?

  • Max-P@lemmy.max-p.meEnglish
    2·
    1 year ago

    It requires an HTTPS connection, and certificates can only be obtained for domain names. So yes, pretty much.

    Also consider than IPs can change, even if you’re using a hosting provider. Domain names makes changing the IP much easier.

    Domain names can be obtained for as cheap as $3/year for the xyz TLD. If you can’t pay for anything, there’s also free services that can let you get a subdomain, like noip.com, afraid.org, azote.org.

    • idle@158436977.xyzEnglish
      1·
      1 year ago

      Also if you dont mind numbers .xyz domains can be like $1 a year. It has to be only numbers and i think at least 9 digits.

      • happy_saw@lemmy.worldEnglish
        2·
        1 year ago

        Sorry but do you mean that .xyz domains only allow for a numbers only domain name? Because I don’t think that’s true.

        • idle@158436977.xyzEnglish
          3·
          1 year ago

          No i mean if you want a super cheap .xyz domain, its very cheap if you choose a domain that is digits only. For example my lemmy domain is 158436977.xyz. its 89 cents a year.

          You can certainly have xyz domains that are words just like any other.

          • gun/linux@latte.isnot.coffeeEnglish
            1·
            1 year ago

            What name registrar would you recommend?

            EDIT: found one for 0.85 dollars on namecheap

            EDIT EDIT: for some reason its labeled as a “premium domain” :P

            • idle@158436977.xyzEnglish
              1·
              1 year ago

              Namecheap is what I use ya. They are also really great if you have some internal services and want just a cheap domain to get SSL certs from LetEncrypt. All my internal traffic is SSL now because why not, its 85 cents a year. And no dealing with self-signed certs.