Open DNS

[Zirax]

Just a heads up for everyone. Due to my own laziness when I migrated to BE, I used their DNS servers. However recently browsing has become painful, so I quickly put in the OpenDNS servers addresses. The difference is like night and day!!

I imagine that most use this anyway, I just forgot to re-enter on my new router.

[Mark]

Their DNS was broken when I checked Monday, and it seems to be quite common for both Be and O2 to have DNS issues.

Fortunately I'm already using OpenDNS.

My only pet peeve is that OpenDNS tries to turn itself into a search engine if you enter a domain name that doesn't exist. I may be unusual in this, but I'd much rather just get a 'domain name not found' error, thanks.

[Zirax]

Not discovered that one yet. The Be DNS has been very shaky recently

[Mark]

Usually happens when my VPN connection dies on me, because Vista rarely disconnects when that happens and when it does, I have to intervene to 'repair' the connection.

The net result is that I sometimes go to domains inside the VPN and OpenDNS gets them and tries to be clever.

[Daz]

My only pet peeve is that OpenDNS tries to turn itself into a search engine if you enter a domain name that doesn't exist. I may be unusual in this, but I'd much rather just get a 'domain name not found' error, thanks.
Thats the reason I dont use it, error messages are more useful to me :) Luckily BT's DNS is pretty good.

[Burble]

Thats the reason I dont use it, error messages are more useful to me :)

Ditto. I run my own DNS servers having being burnt by NTL being incapable of giving a reliable DNS infrastructure.

[phykell]

I've tried it and it's no quicker than VM's DNS servers for me. Also, if you read their terms and conditions they can store your lookups (on their own US-based servers) for their own purposes.

[Mark]

Ditto. I run my own DNS servers having being burnt by NTL being incapable of giving a reliable DNS infrastructure.
I assume you still get DNS data from somewhere though. I'd gladly use an alternative source (and run my own DNS servers). Suggestions always welcome.

[Burble]

I assume you still get DNS data from somewhere though.

root.hint

[divine]

Their DNS was broken when I checked Monday, and it seems to be quite common for both Be and O2 to have DNS issues.

Fortunately I'm already using OpenDNS.

My only pet peeve is that OpenDNS tries to turn itself into a search engine if you enter a domain name that doesn't exist. I may be unusual in this, but I'd much rather just get a 'domain name not found' error, thanks.

That does my head in, as with O2's DNS servers, typing crap into the address bar and hitting enter would land you at google at worst.

Also, for some reason OpenDNS wont let me use o2wirelessbox.lan to get to the router, I had to go find the actual IP using cmd.

[Daz]

Also, for some reason OpenDNS wont let me use o2wirelessbox.lan to get to the router, I had to go find the actual IP using cmd.
Just simply because OpenDNS (or any internet DNS server) has no idea what that address is, .LAN is not a valid TLD (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TLD) on the public network.

[Metalface Mark]

Just a heads up for everyone. Due to my own laziness when I migrated to BE, I used their DNS servers. However recently browsing has become painful, so I quickly put in the OpenDNS servers addresses. The difference is like night and day!!

I imagine that most use this anyway, I just forgot to re-enter on my new router.

What are the opendns server addressessesesesessss?

[Burble]

What are the opendns server addressessesesesessss?

208.67.222.222
208.67.220.220

[Mark]

Also, for some reason OpenDNS wont let me use o2wirelessbox.lan to get to the router, I had to go find the actual IP using cmd.
You need to change the connection settings on your PC. On whichever network connection you use, set the local DNS suffix to '.lan' (without the quotes). Alternatively, ditch the crappy Thomson router and get a proper one. :)

[divine]

Well I would but what's the point in spending £50 on a router when this works perfectly? :p

[Mark]

root.hint
D'oh. I was just being dumb. DNS server now operational. Thanks. :)

[Garp]

I switched over to OpenDNS due to continual problems with painfully slow DNS servers at Orange/Freeserve. Peeved me to no end that OpenDNS does that stupid search thing, but it's better than non-functional internet and is also something my parents can handle when I'm not around, unlike setting up my own DNS server.

[Metalface Mark]

208.67.222.222
208.67.220.220

Cheers mucker.

[MarcLister]

Does anyone use Google Maps at all in conjunction with also using OpenDNS? I'm finding that Google Maps takes ages to load. The address box won't accept input for ages and then when it does, the map takes an age or three to load and I get stupid boxes on the map where Google can't load that particular map segment.

Always thought it was Be but I've looked at some quick Googling and it seems that there is a link between using OpenDNS and shoddy Google Maps performance. Would like to stay on OpenDNS if possible, rather than rever to Be's own DNS servers. Or perhaps there's another alternative DNS solution I could use instead of OpenDNS?

[Mark]

If you know a friend with a Linux box, get 'em to chuck a nameserver on it. Job done. No annoying broken Be DNS servers, and no annoying OpenDNS search pages/Google nasties either. Works a treat.

[MarcLister]

Nah none of my mates run a Linux box. I do have a spare PC doing pretty much nothing. Its plugged into the same router as my main PC. Could I use that as a nameserver machine?

[Mark]

Yes - any PC will do. My Linux do-everything server is sat a few feet from me right now. :)

There's a few Windows nameservers about. No idea if they're any good (excluding the obvious Microsoft Server OS types).

[MarcLister]

Excellente. So what Linux derivative is good to use? Or just any Linux derivative? Could I use Ubuntu?

I'm guessing I'd install the Linux derivative, set the nameserver stuff up and then point my router to the IP of the Linux box for its source of DNS?

Can I PM you or add you to MSN so I can ask more technical questions as I have no experience in setting this up but would love to learn a bit, whilst under supervision. :D

[Mark]

Can you give me a few days to clear current work schedule please, then I'll be glad to help. :)

[MarcLister]

Course. No probs. How should I contact you then? MSN or PMs?

[Burble]

If Mark is busy then feel free to PM me, I run a few clusters of DNS servers so I know my way around Bind.

Normally I'd say add me to MSN but I'm working in Germany this week and for some reason MSN is misbehaving.

Any old Linux distro will do just fine :)

[Mark]

Course. No probs. How should I contact you then? MSN or PMs?
Either works, though I think I need to clear out my PM inbox. It's a bit big. ;D

[MarcLister]

If Mark is busy then feel free to PM me, I run a few clusters of DNS servers so I know my way around Bind.

Normally I'd say add me to MSN but I'm working in Germany this week and for some reason MSN is misbehaving.

Any old Linux distro will do just fine :)Cheers Burble. :)

Either works, though I think I need to clear out my PM inbox. It's a bit big. ;DHaha OK. :D

[MarcLister]

Normally I'd say add me to MSN but I'm working in Germany this week and for some reason MSN is misbehaving.I would add you to MSN but I can't see an MSN address for you anywhere. Or am I being typically blond, or as my mates say a plank? :o

I might install Ubuntu onto the spare PC then. Its currently running XP but I don't think I need to keep XP anymore. :)

[Burble]

D'oh, that's me being blond (even though I'm not). My MSN address is burbleflop@hotmail.com

[MarcLister]

Cheers Burble. I'll get onto installing Ubuntu later today sometime. :)

[Feek]

I used to run Simple DNS Plus (http://www.simpledns.com/) on my server box a while ago. I don't any more though, can't remember why.