dnsmasq; my new "must use" linux service.

[simple_gifts]

Not really a question here, just a heads up for the linux users out there. I use a 1.5Mb DSL line provided by AT+T; Did a quick DNS query for a variety of sites and it seems the normal response time is about 100-200ms which is pretty bad. It never occurred to me that the slow load times for new pages might be a DNS and not a connection or server issue.

Loaded up dnsmasq, a local name caching utility, edited two files roughly using

THIS

as a template and wow, my page loads are flying....

Suggest checking your DNS response time to see if this might be a benefit.

 

[jaj]

You can also speed things up considerably by using a different DNS server than your ISP's server. I force my DSL gateway to issue 4.2.2.1 and 4.2.2.2 as the two first DNS server addresses. They belong to Verizon. You can also use Google's DNS servers at 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4 as well. Put your own ISP's server as the third option if the first two are unreachable for some reason.

More info here: http://theos.in/windows-xp/free-fast-public-dns-server-list/

 

[Brons2]

For Windows users, this is a good DNS benchmarking utility:
http://www.grc.com/dns/benchmark.htm

It will find you the fastest publicly available DNS servers for your location when you can then populate into Windows or your router. I personally use Open DNS's servers in my router rather than the ISP's DNS servers.

 

[Colt45ws]

Yup, my home server does DNS caching as well as DNS for a .lan suffix so I can keep track of machines.

 

[Donald]

So if I am booting Win 7 HP, how can I take advantage of the info provided by DNS Benchmark. I ran the "build custom list" and then ran the benchmark for the top 50. So I now know the 2 or 3 fastest DNS servers (for my location).

So do I change the DNS (to the top ones in the benchmark) in Win 7, or my Vizio wireless router or my Fairpoint Comm. DSL modem/router?

 

[SrDriver]

The following web site has some illustrations on how to change your DNS settings in Windows 7.

Link to web site.

Illustrations are near the bottom of the web site.

 

[Stu_Rock]

I also use dnsmasq to block ad services that crash browsers.

Set up an HTTPd on your computer and set its 404 message to be something unobtrusive. Then have dnsmasq block offensive ad services by routing those URLs to your computer. Here's my snippet from dnsmasq.conf:
Code:


address=/intellitxt.com/192.168.1.1

address=/pubmatic.com/192.168.1.1

address=/kontera.com/192.168.1.1

address=/infolinks.com/192.168.1.1

address=/mediaplex.com/192.168.1.1

address=/chartbeat.com/192.168.1.1

address=/doclix.com/192.168.1.1

address=/quantcast.com/192.168.1.1

address=/quantserve.com/192.168.1.1

address=/valueclickmedia.com/192.168.1.1

address=/glam.com/192.168.1.1

address=/picapp.com/192.168.1.1

address=/eyewonder.com/192.168.1.1

address=/bnmla.com/192.168.1.1
Ad services pay for a lot of websites I visit, and I don't want to deprive them of that revenue. I only blacklist ad services if they actually cause a browser problem.

 

[Donald]

Originally Posted By: SrDriver
The following web site has some illustrations on how to change your DNS settings in Windows 7.

Link to web site.

Illustrations are near the bottom of the web site.



Thanks, but I knew how to do that. I guess I was asking if people just pulled the top few DNS addresses from the run of the DNS benchmark and entered them in PC/router.