How to install ddclient on Ubuntu

OS: Ubuntu 6.06 LTS Server Ed.
Software: ddclient 3.7.3 (supports Ubuntu)

First, download ddclient from here and use tar command to extract the files. Since I saved the downloaded file in /home/user/ directory, I didn't have to change directory. Otherwise use cd command to change directory first. Note: You need to change file name and folder name as necessary.

user@localhost:~$ tar -xvvzf ddclient-3.7.3.tar.gz

After extracting the files, change to that directory.

user@localhost:~$ cd ddclient-3.7.3

Next, copy ddclient script, make directory for ddclient, and configuration file by

user@localhost:~/ddclient-3.7.3$ sudo cp ddclient /usr/sbin/
user@localhost:~/ddclient-3.7.3$ sudo mkdir /etc/ddclient
user@localhost:~/ddclient-3.7.3$ sudo cp sample-etc_ddclient.conf /etc/ddclient/ddclient.conf

Use vi to edit ddclient configuration file. I use DynDNS and their knowledge base has an article on how to configure ddclient.

user@localhost:~/ddclient-3.7.3$ sudo vi /etc/ddclient/ddclient.conf

After making necessary changes in ddclient.conf, copy the following file to /etc/init.d folder so that ddclient can run as a daemon.

user@localhost:~/ddclient-3.7.3$ sudo cp sample-etc_rc.d_init.d_ddclient.ubuntu /etc/init.d/ddclient

Next, add ddclient to all run levels by

user@localhost:~/ddclient-3.7.3$ sudo update-rc.d ddclient defaults

Start ddclient manually for the first time by

user@localhost:~/ddclient-3.7.3$ sudo /etc/init.d/ddclient start

That's all. Check to make sure ddclient is working.

Note: One can also use apt-get to install ddclient from Ubuntu's repository by using the following command. Make sure to check here first before using apt-get to install.

user@localhost:~$ sudo apt-get install ddclient