First, I was wondering what you were hoping to use webguide for. Its definitely excellent for remote guide scheduling... sharing video and music is OK, though live tv streaming does require you usually install powerdvd/ac3 codecs - so just a caveat about that....
re- IPs etc
I could give you a ''quick n nasty'' guide, but I think its a good idea to be walked through it so you come out with a bit of an understanding about whats going on....that;s how I prefer it anyway.
here's the exact page I used when starting with the same puzzled questions! (the webguide program will actually point you there)
So, if you are keen to proceed
1. read this page to assign static IP
http://www.portforward.com/networking/static-vista.htm
2. download and install webguide onto your mce rig from www.asciiexpress.com >>
webguide may be successful in configuring your ports automatically... if it isnt - you will have to do it manually (you will be able to check from within webguide config in the 'network config' tab) If you do it manually, the port numbers you pick are up to you, I pick 80 for web and 1080 for video. s'easy!
Heres the page where you can look up portforward instructions per your router model
http://www.portforward.com/english/routers/port_forwarding/routerindex.htm
**make sure you reboot after all the tinkering
doing these to alone should allow you internal access to to your mce rig, if youve done it all Ok !! ie from another computer on your network....(actually you can do it even on the same computer if you sont have another to test on)
All you do is type in
http://<staticip> and you'll get the webguide login page instantly!
<staticip> = what you assigned in step 1
do this, checkout the features, interface - it will look the same from any external pc but that requires you set it up for external/remote access...
if you do that and all of the above is working well...and you'd like to proceed with setting up external/remote access..... come back and we get on with the DNS bit ;)
All I can recommend...read those guides diligently, and be patient ! It seriously took me 4 days to get my head around this, with help from forum folk - and I was just as green about network stuff.. If I can do it - Im sure anyone can(I'm moreso into high end gaming/overlcocks/thermals - this stuff was like learning a new language initially :p ....lolz )
good luck
astro
MCE Buddy : User Friendly DVMRS to H264/DIVX/XVID/ZUNE/PPC etc. Give it a try !! // Freeware !!