Chapter 6 Example: Using a Domain from DuckDNS(Free)

If you don’t have a custom domain yet or just want to test things out without spending anything, DuckDNS is a great free alternative. It provides you with a subdomain under duckdns.org, and it works perfectly for development environments, home labs, or even small-scale production use.

In this chapter, we’ll walk through how to register a DuckDNS subdomain and connect it to your OCI setup.

Step-by-Step: Set Up a DuckDNS Domain

1. Create an Account on DuckDNS

• Go to https://www.duckdns.org
• Sign in using a supported platform (GitHub, Google, Twitter, Reddit, etc.)
• Once logged in, you’ll see the dashboard with the option to create a subdomain

2. Register Your Subdomain

• Choose a name for your subdomain (e.g., myghostlab)
• Click "add domain"
• DuckDNS will generate a full domain like myghostlab.duckdns.org

3. Get Your Token

• You’ll also be given a token (API key) tied to your account — keep it safe
• You’ll use this token to update DNS records dynamically, if needed

4. Point the Domain to Your Public IP

• Add your current public IP address in the DuckDNS dashboard (under your subdomain)
• If you're running Ghost behind an OCI Load Balancer, enter the public IP of the Load Balancer
• DuckDNS will start resolving that domain to your IP within minutes