Johannesburg, 02 Feb 2005
In a move to ensure it offers its clients a wider range of products and services than any other Internet service provider (ISP), AltX-listed ISP and telco, DataPro, has announced the launch of its locally-developed Business ADSL Dynamic DNS (Domain Name System) service.
This new solution allows a Web surfer to type in an address like http://www.datapro.co.za and have it automatically relayed to the correct IP address so that its content can be delivered to the user.
Simon Butler, ADSL product manager at DataPro, said the launch of the new solution - believed to be an industry first - comes after numerous requests from clients.
"When a typical PC connects to the Internet through a dial-up, broadband or other connection, it is generally assigned a random IP address - usually through a process called DHCP.
"The problem with a random IP address," he explained, "is that other Internet users don`t know your new address each time you connect. This means it is not easy for other users to locate your servers when you run HTTP, mail or any other type of service."
Dynamic DNS solves this problem, he said. The DataPro Business ADSL solution includes DNS software that determines when the ADSL IP address has changed and relays the change to a master DNS server, which updates the relevant client domain records.
"The proprietary offering is seen as a counter to Telkom`s current market restrictions in that it allows customers to use their own domain. Telkom`s restrictions surrounding the dynamic IP address assignment on the ADSL solutions doesn`t allow for this," Butler explained.
He said the solution is to be offered free of charge to DataPro`s existing ADSL customers - and free to any new ADSL customers.
The solution also allows customers to access Web mail remotely - and enables them to use their own dedicated domain.
"One of the prerequisites, however, is that the domain you wish to use must reside on DataPro`s Master DNS server - in other words, DataPro needs to be the 'Authoritative` on the domain in question."
DataPro, one of the four top-tier ISPs, listed on the stock exchange last September. One of the company`s primary goals is to ultimately emerge as the ISP with the most corporates linked to its network.
For further information on your domain, e-mail domains@datapro.co.za.
Share