DNS Server Setting in Windows

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Oubadah

676 posts

Ultimate Geek

#106539 26-Jul-2012 02:52

(networking noob)

When I'm setting a static address for my PC in Windows, the last two lines it has are for DNS server addresses:

Preferred DNS Server
Alternate DNS Server

I don't really know how DNS servers work, but I'm wondering if I should fill these lines? Should I leave them empty, fill them with the two DNS servers provided by my ISP or is something from my router supposed to go there?

Also, why does my router's system info page have three DNS servers listed; the two ISP ones and 127.0.0.1?

Blazher

9 posts

Wannabe Geek

#662152 26-Jul-2012 07:09

Hello mate,

Yes you should assign at least one DNS server when you're using a static.

The easiest way to find out what settings to use is to do a "ipconfig -all"

On your computer

1 > Press the Windows key + R to open a cmd ( little black window ) or type cmd in to the run box

2 > type "IPCONFIG -ALL" and press enter

3 > Scroll down to you see your " Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection"

But depending on the setup of your network, you could have a DNS server or your router will do DHCP and DNS

freitasm

BDFL - Memuneh
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Geekzone

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#662161 26-Jul-2012 07:57

As said, if you are using a static IP address then you should use the DNS there - if you currently have a dynamic IP the easiest one to use is your router's IP address, this way the router configuration will always work for the entire network.

This is what I have:

Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Intel(R) 82579LM Gigabit Network Connection
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 44-37-E6-6A-21-FD
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
Link-local IPv6 Address . . . . . : fe80::205e:3257:f7b6:3bff%11(Preferred)
IPv4 Address. . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.2.110(Preferred)
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.2.1
DHCPv6 IAID . . . . . . . . . . . : 239351782
DHCPv6 Client DUID. . . . . . . . : 00-01-00-01-16-EA-FB-38-44-37-E6-6A-21-FD
DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.2.1
NetBIOS over Tcpip. . . . . . . . : Enabled

That DNS in my case is the router...

Oubadah

676 posts

Ultimate Geek

#662434 26-Jul-2012 15:18

ipconfig = DNS Servers: 192.168.2.1, which is my router's IP. So the router handles the DNS thing then? I should just put that one address for DNS server like this?

And for my router I put in the two addresses provided by Slingshot here, am I doing it right?

Why does my router show this extra DNS server 127.0.0.1? I didn't supply it with that.

freitasm

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Geekzone

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#662440 26-Jul-2012 15:26

Just leave the router as it is...

Blazher

9 posts

Wannabe Geek

#662528 26-Jul-2012 17:53

Oubadah: ipconfig = DNS Servers: 192.168.2.1, which is my router's IP. So the router handles the DNS thing then? I should just put that one address for DNS server like this?

And for my router I put in the two addresses provided by Slingshot here, am I doing it right?

Why does my router show this extra DNS server 127.0.0.1? I didn't supply it with that.

127.0.0.1 is a loopback address, It will check itself before passing the request up the line. For a home network, Set the router/gateway as your DNS. it will then use the ISP's DNS servers.

Zeon

3918 posts

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#662540 26-Jul-2012 18:12

I would never really recommend using Static IPs. I would sooner suggest you either have a static reservation on your DHCP server, increase the DHCP expiration time to like a month or use IPv6 with link local. All will result in your address never changing but means you can manage everything via your router so you don't get conflicts or the like.

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Oubadah

676 posts

Ultimate Geek

#662964 27-Jul-2012 14:40

Zeon: I would never really recommend using Static IPs. I would sooner suggest you either have a static reservation on your DHCP server, increase the DHCP expiration time to like a month or use IPv6 with link local. All will result in your address never changing but means you can manage everything via your router so you don't get conflicts or the like.

Some games need you to specify an IP address on the machine, don't ask me why. I think one of them was CoD4, which would refuse to launch otherwise.