Home Network: Separate DNS settings per device?

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RouterNewbie

6 posts

Wannabe Geek

#215326 22-Jun-2017 11:09

Currently have a Huawei HG659 - having no issues setting global DNS settings for the entire home network. I use OpenDNS which works pretty well for content filtering (kids in the house).

What I want is to have one specific device use different DNS servers from the rest of the home network. The device is a Roku. My current router doesn't seem to have this ability (i.e. set DNS by mac address or by IP for example). Please correct me if I'm wrong!

I'm not super keen on having to go down the route of alternative router firmware... but will if I have to. A google search tells me I'd need firmware (tomato or dd-wrt) that supports a service called "dnsmasq". And if this turns out to be the only solution I believe I would need to buy a new router. (again please correct me if I'm wrong).

Any recommendations on a solution?

robjg63

4100 posts

Uber Geek

Subscriber

#1805092 22-Jun-2017 11:25

google "set DNS roku"

You just need to set the DNS server details you want to use on the ROKU so it doesnt use the routers.

(Most devices will let you enter details to override the network defaults.)

Nothing is impossible for the man who doesn't have to do it himself - A. H. Weiler

RouterNewbie

6 posts

Wannabe Geek

#1805096 22-Jun-2017 11:40

Unfortunately Roku doesn't allow setting it's own DNS settings, therefore I need the router to do the job.

I can set the router DNS settings easily - however I need a solution that allows 1 set of DNS servers for the Roku, and another set of DNS servers for everything else on the network.

robfish

683 posts

Ultimate Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#1805098 22-Jun-2017 11:50

Perhaps use a second router just for the Roku?

Rob

robjg63

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#1805099 22-Jun-2017 11:50

My apologies - Didnt read the results from google properly - did I?

It looks (very quick google) like the Roku is hardwired to use the google DNS servers - is this right?

So you have openDNS on your router, the Roku shouldnt be using openDNS anyway.

What DNS are you wanting the Roku to use?

Nothing is impossible for the man who doesn't have to do it himself - A. H. Weiler

RouterNewbie

6 posts

Wannabe Geek

#1805102 22-Jun-2017 11:57

robfish:

Perhaps use a second router just for the Roku?

So would it work like this:

Roku > second router with it's own DNS settings > first router with Open DNS settings > Fiber modem

Roku > second router with it's own DNS settings > Fiber modem

(not sure if my fibre modem has two WAN ports, or if I have enough power points to plug in another router - but those a different problems!)

hio77

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Lizard Networks

#1805103 22-Jun-2017 12:00

you would need a more advanced router to pull off a setup like this.

a second router would be the alternative option.

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RouterNewbie

6 posts

Wannabe Geek

#1805104 22-Jun-2017 12:01

robjg63:

My apologies - Didnt read the results from google properly - did I?

It looks (very quick google) like the Roku is hardwired to use the google DNS servers - is this right?

So you have openDNS on your router, the Roku shouldnt be using openDNS anyway.

What DNS are you wanting the Roku to use?

No worries - I appreciate the replies!

I'm not 100% sure the DNS is hardwired, I think it picks it up from the router because I can make the Roku work how I want by setting the DNS servers globally on my router (to a service called dns4me) but then this affects every other device on the network.

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RouterNewbie

6 posts

Wannabe Geek

#1805105 22-Jun-2017 12:04

hio77:

you would need a more advanced router to pull off a setup like this.

a second router would be the alternative option.

Any suggestions on a more advanced router? Or a super cheap 2nd router?

robjg63

4100 posts

Uber Geek

Subscriber

#1805111 22-Jun-2017 12:22

I suppose you could get something like a Raspberry pi board and install dnsmasq on that.

http://www.pcworld.com/article/3200117/linux/how-to-use-raspberry-pi-as-dns-server-with-dnsmasq.html

The Pi would have to have a static IP on your network and the router would need to point the DNS to the Pi.

Bit of a learning curve on Dnsmasq (and linux) I imagine and you would need to be ok with command line stuff.

I think that router has a USB port on it - it might be enough to power a Raspberry Pi.

EDIT: Do any routers allow different DNS for the 2.5 and 5Ghz ssids perhaps?

Nothing is impossible for the man who doesn't have to do it himself - A. H. Weiler

davidcole

6038 posts

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#1805113 22-Jun-2017 12:25

RouterNewbie:

Unfortunately Roku doesn't allow setting it's own DNS settings, therefore I need the router to do the job.

I can set the router DNS settings easily - however I need a solution that allows 1 set of DNS servers for the Roku, and another set of DNS servers for everything else on the network.

Unless you can play with dnsmasq on your router, or put the roku on a different router than the rest of the network, I think you might be out of luck.

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sidefx

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#1805114 22-Jun-2017 12:26

RouterNewbie:

Roku > second router with it's own DNS settings > first router with Open DNS settings > Fiber modem

I have all my "Entertainment" devices (Xbox one, PS3, HTPC, Panasonic TV, etc - I don't have a roku unfortunately) running like this. It means you're double NATing but I haven't had any real issues with that.

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Wiggum

1199 posts

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Inactive user

#1805121 22-Jun-2017 12:55

DD-WRT allows for this, I have a separate Wifi SID especially for my Roku, and a few other devices.

You need to setup a separate Wifi virtual interface, then use forced DNS redirection to an optional DNS target for that virtual interface. Be careful just setting up a second router, it will not work unless its isolated. You run into all sorts of problems when having 2 DHCP servers on the same network. DD-WRT with a virtual wifi interface works really well.

RouterNewbie

6 posts

Wannabe Geek

#1805127 22-Jun-2017 13:00

Wiggum:

DD-WRT allows for this, I have a separate Wifi SID especially for my Roku, and a few other devices.

You need to setup a separate Wifi virtual interface, then use forced DNS redirection to an optional DNS target for that virtual interface. Be careful just setting up a second router, it will not work unless its isolated. You run into all sorts of problems when having 2 DHCP servers on the same network. DD-WRT with a virtual wifi interface works really well.

This appears to be pretty close to what my original google search turned up. It would certainly be nice to achieve what I want with only one router!

Which router do you use/recommend?

Wiggum

1199 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#1805130 22-Jun-2017 13:05

RouterNewbie:

Wiggum:

DD-WRT allows for this, I have a separate Wifi SID especially for my Roku, and a few other devices.

You need to setup a separate Wifi virtual interface, then use forced DNS redirection to an optional DNS target for that virtual interface. Be careful just setting up a second router, it will not work unless its isolated. You run into all sorts of problems when having 2 DHCP servers on the same network. DD-WRT with a virtual wifi interface works really well.

This appears to be pretty close to what my original google search turned up. It would certainly be nice to achieve what I want with only one router!

Which router do you use/recommend?

I have a Linksys WRT1900ACv2. Best router I have ever owned.

Its running the latest DD-WRT Brainslayer build.

Lots of information about these routers and online community help available here.

michaelmurfy

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#1805472 23-Jun-2017 07:31

There is already a thread for this: https://www.geekzone.co.nz/forums.asp?forumid=66&topicid=197871

Edgerouter Lite all the way...

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