How to: Configuring for OpenDNS (changing DNS)

With OpenDNS you will not get a faster internet connection. But you will get much faster domain lookup; which will result in a faster internet experience. You will also get automated domain phishing blocking and URL typo auto-correction!

Here is how to change your ISP's DNS settings to OpenDNS's:

Type sudo network-admin in a terminal window.

Change to the DNS tab and enter the following two addresses in the top of the first field labeled DNS Servers:

208.67.222.222
208.67.220.220

Note that you should leave your ISP's DNS addresses underneath OpenDNS's as a backup that will kick in automatically if there ever should be any trouble with the OpenDNS service.

You can test your new settings at http://welcome.opendns.com/!

If you experience that settings get revoked after reboots or after periods of inactivity you can try this:

sudo gedit /etc/dhcp3/dhclient.conf

Append the following line to the document:

prepend domain-name-servers 208.67.222.222,208.67.220.220;
Save, exit and run:

sudo ifdown eth0 && sudo ifup eth0

You may be required to change eth0 to your own network device's name if it uses a non standard name.

Note that OpenDNS provides this enhanced DNS service for free, but they will show you advertisement on the could not resolve error page. This page will also show search results and possible spelling corrections for the domain name you tried to enter. You should also review their privacy policy.

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2 comments

very nice, I'll give it a try. thanks for the hint

Comment by Ralph at 2007-02-09 @384.

[…] for suspected phishing activities when I do the domain lookup. Sound interesting? Their name is OpenDNS and they are nice guys, providing really fast and secure DNS […]

Comment by Fraud protection or privacy intrusion? at Open Source Notebook at 2007-02-14 @446.