Guide to Setting Up a DNS Server Using Pi-hole

Here's a step-by-step guide to setting up a DNS server using Pi-hole on a Linux-based server:

Step 1: Prepare Your Linux Server

1. Update Your System:

   Run the following commands to ensure your system is up to date:

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   sudo apt update
   sudo apt upgrade

2. Install Required Packages (Optional):

   Install curl if it's not already installed, as it’s needed for Pi-hole installation:

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   sudo apt install curl

Step 2: Install Pi-hole

1. Run the Pi-hole Installation Script:

   Use the following command to download and start the Pi-hole installer:

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   curl -sSL <https://install.pi-hole.net> | bash

2. Follow the Installation Prompts:

   During the installation, you'll be prompted to configure various settings:

   • Network Interface: Select the correct network interface for Pi-hole (e.g., eth0).
   • DNS Provider: Choose your preferred upstream DNS provider (e.g., Google, OpenDNS, Cloudflare).
   • Static IP Address: Ensure your server has a static IP address. Pi-hole will help set this up if it’s not already configured.
   • Blocklists: Pi-hole comes with default blocklists to block ads and trackers. You can customize or add more later.
   • Web Interface: Choose to install the web admin interface, which is highly recommended for managing Pi-hole.
3. Set a Web Admin Password:

   After installation, set a password for the web admin interface:

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   sudo pihole -a -p

Step 3: Configure Pi-hole as Your DNS Server

1. Access the Pi-hole Admin Interface:

   Open a web browser and go to http://<your_server_ip>/admin.

   Log in with the password you set during installation.

2. Set Up Local DNS:

   Navigate to the “Local DNS” section in the admin interface.

   Add any custom DNS records for devices on your network if needed.

3. Configure Devices to Use Pi-hole:

   Update the DNS settings on your router or individual devices to point to your Pi-hole server's IP address. This ensures all DNS queries are processed through Pi-hole.

Step 4: Testing and Verification

1. Check DNS Resolution:

   On a client device, run a DNS query to verify that Pi-hole is correctly resolving domains:

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   nslookup example.com

   Ensure that the DNS server IP in the response matches your Pi-hole server’s IP.

2. Verify Ad Blocking:

   Visit a website known for displaying ads and check if ads are blocked.

   Use the Pi-hole admin interface to monitor DNS queries and blocked domains.

Step 5: Advanced Configuration (Optional)

1. Custom Blocklists:

   In the Pi-hole admin interface, navigate to "Group Management" > "Adlists" to add more blocklists.

2. Set Up DNS Over HTTPS (DoH):

   Secure your DNS queries by setting up DNS over HTTPS (DoH) using a tool like cloudflared.

3. Configure Conditional Forwarding:

   If you want Pi-hole to resolve local device names (e.g., device.local), set up conditional forwarding to your router.

Step 6: Maintenance and Updates

1. Update Pi-hole:

   Regularly update Pi-hole to the latest version using the command:

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   pihole -up

2. Monitor Pi-hole:

   Use the admin interface to monitor DNS queries, blocked domains, and overall performance.

With this setup, your Pi-hole server will act as a DNS server, filtering out unwanted ads and trackers while resolving domain names efficiently.