D-Link AC1750 Router DNS Management

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CokemonZ

554 posts

Ultimate Geek

#155990 15-Nov-2014 21:23

Hi All,

This I know is really dumb.
I have a D-Link AC-1750 router, it's actually really good.
http://www.dlink.com.au/home-solutions/dual-band-wireless-ac1750-gigabit-cloud-adsl2-modem-router
I also use Unblock US.
However I can't figure out how to get it to pass through the DNS directly, rather than acting as a gateway.

I put in the manual DNS from unblock us.
When DNS Relay is enabled all the connected devices have the router as their DNS server.
When I disable DNS relay, no DNS at all is passed to the devices.

So - what am I missing? Or does the D-Link not pass through static DNS, only ISP dns?

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4610 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#1176506 15-Nov-2014 22:11

Wow, lots of use of dns, gateway, pass-through, relay. So very confusing.

In your WAN settings there should be the option to either 'use ISP DNS' or 'set manual DNS' (or words to that affect).

Other thing to do would be too be to just assign Unblock-US's server directly to your devices with DHCP. Go to DHCP settings and see what is in there.

CokemonZ

554 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1176510 15-Nov-2014 22:28

Agreed, simplification and reliability is the point.

I've setup manual dns on the router as described.
The issue is that the manual dns entries don't get passed through to the clients.

It seems to only pass through either itself as a dns server, or auto configured addresses from the isp.

I cant figure out why this is, and after a bit of googling it doesn't appear to be a common issue or request.

chevrolux

4610 posts

Uber Geek

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#1176525 15-Nov-2014 22:41

That isn't due to the router's DNS settings. That is because of the DHCP server set up.

Go to your DHCP server settings and see what that is assigning as a DNS server to your clients. It will probably be the router's address as pretty much every consumer router runs a local DNS server.
Rather than have DHCP assign the router's address for DHCP have it assign Unblock-US's server instead.

CokemonZ

554 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1176792 16-Nov-2014 14:42

Ok,
Under network settings there are 2 sections.

Router setiings:
router IP
subnet
hostname
local domain name
enable dns relay

DHCP server settings
enable dhcp server or relay
enable dhcp relay
dhcp range
dhcp lease time
always broadcast

Under DHCP, the router is setup as a dhcp server - which I want, and it works fine.

When I enable DNS relay, the router acts as a dns server - all the client devices get the router ip as their dns server.
when I disable dns relay, no dns addresses are passed on.

I don't change the setting under internet where the dns addresses are set.

chevrolux

4610 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#1176911 16-Nov-2014 17:42

Ok just looked up the manual. Glad to see D-Link still use the same horible GUI they have used for years.

Under your PPPoE settings (under Internet Connection) you need to make 'DNS Mode' set to 'Enter DNS manually'. Then below that enter the primary & secondary server from Unblock-US.

Now go to 'Network settings' and under 'Router settings' uncheck the 'Enable DNS relay'. The way I read how that works is it stops the router acting as a DNS forwarder and makes DHCP assign the "ISP" DNS servers directly to your clients. Obviously we have over-ridden the ISP's DNS servers with our own in the internet connection settings.

I would question why you want your entire network to use Unblock-US's servers though. It would be better to just manually assign their DNS to the devices that require them. Or get a better local DNS server that can specify authoritative DNS servers based on the domain being looked up. That way the Unblock-US servers are only used when they are required which is far better for us in NZ.

CokemonZ

554 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1177031 16-Nov-2014 21:35

Yep - Gui is something out of the late 90's. Not amazing, however fairly functional. And I got a free camera with it.
Most importantly when I brought it, it was both an ADSL modem for now, and ufb compatible router for the future.

I've done exactly as you describe and as the manual says.
The problem is, that when I uncheck DNS relay, no dns ip's are passed to the clients, if dns is set to manual.
Seems to work ok when DNS is set to automatic.
It seems like a bug I think.

As for using un-block us for all the devices - of the 7 in the house, there is only one that doesn't get used on a semi regular for hulu or Netflix. It's just easier.
Also unblock lets us change the region - incredibly important for kids content on Netflix.
Is there a better option - this I'm definitely interested in.

chevrolux

4610 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#1177050 16-Nov-2014 22:29

So are you saying that when dns relay is unchecked the clients get no dns server assigned? Therefore there is no "connectivity" for want of a better term.

CokemonZ

554 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1177059 16-Nov-2014 22:43

Nail on the head. Dns relay unchecked means no dns, if dns on the router is set to manual. Works ok with auto assigned isp dns - which doesn't help.

chevrolux

4610 posts

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#1177090 17-Nov-2014 06:27

D-link have screwed up then.

I would suggest a proper router with a proper DHCP server that actually allows you to configure it properly.

CokemonZ

554 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1177140 17-Nov-2014 09:03

It seems that way. I'll log a support ticket.

Based of what I want.
Adsl for now
Ufb comparable for when it comes - mid next year.
Wireless ac - again future proof my last router lasted 6 years.

What do you recommend?

The dlink got decent reviews - or at least the same model without adsl inbuilt. The adsl version seems to be a nz and au variant.

chevrolux

4610 posts

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#1177342 17-Nov-2014 13:37

I personally don't like D-Link (can you tell? haha) and would never use it. Like you have found there are just some weird things about them. Used to deal with a fair few of them because a local ISP used them. My issues were firewall related and because they are aimed at residential users the condifuration never seemed to work how it should.

Seeing as you already have it I would just re-purpose as a wireless AP because the wireless probably works quite well I assume?

I would always go for a Draytek Vigor 130 + Mikrotik RB951G-2HnD in the home enviroment. You don't get fancy wireless on the Mikrotik but you get every other routing 'feature' under the sun and the ultimate flexibility.
You will be able to get pretty clever with the DNS set up on this. It will take quite a bit of googling but will do the job well.

CokemonZ

554 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1177345 17-Nov-2014 13:42

Ok - had a 2 minute look.

That means when UFB comes out I'd need to buy a new router right?
The draytek is only for ADSL, and the microtik is only an AP. All up about $290 or so.

Honestly - I think I may just live with the d-link being the gateway.
I remember as a hangover from years ago one old Linksys I had would run out of memory and slowly die if I did that.
Hopefully not a problem anymore.

Spyware

2598 posts

Uber Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#1177349 17-Nov-2014 13:57

No, your understanding is completely wrong.

Spark FibreMAX using Mikrotik CCR1009-8G-1S-1S+. UAP, UAP AC Pro, UAP AC Pro Mesh, Apple TV 4, Apple TV 4K, iPad Air 1, iPhone XR, VodaTV Gen 2. If it doesn't move then it's data cabled.

chevrolux

4610 posts

Uber Geek

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#1177363 17-Nov-2014 14:20

CokemonZ: Ok - had a 2 minute look.

That means when UFB comes out I'd need to buy a new router right?
The draytek is only for ADSL, and the microtik is only an AP. All up about $290 or so.

Honestly - I think I may just live with the d-link being the gateway.
I remember as a hangover from years ago one old Linksys I had would run out of memory and slowly die if I did that.
Hopefully not a problem anymore.

No, sorry I should have explained.

The Draytek is simply there to bridge the ADSL to the Mikrotik in the short term. When UFB comes along you remove the Draytek and only use the Mikrotik.

CokemonZ

554 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1177369 17-Nov-2014 14:31

Ok. Makes sense.

I'll see if I can return the d-link, It has been about a month though, and I'm not sure dns routing falls under the CGA.

I will miss my little wireless camera, but that's a nice to have and only $40 anyway.

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