Support for addn_hosts in dnsmasq on Orbi RBR50

Hi,

I'm reviving a topic from 2018/2019 that has been closed for inactivity, because the issue still exists and has not been resolved yet.

This is related to the closed thread: https://community.netgear.com/t5/Orbi/Orbi-Local-DNS/m-p/1532802

Here is what I submitted to Netgear Technical Support on this issue:

"""

Almost all modern routers (including the stock Verizon FIOS router that I got 4 years ago, and have since replaced with my Orbi) supports local device name resolution using a dnsmasq feature called addn-hosts. There seems to be no way to persistently set this feature in the Orbi via the web user interface, however you can temporarily enable it (until a reboot of the router) using the method described here: https://community.netgear.com/t5/Idea-Exchange-For-Home/orbi-add-dns-server/idc-p/1632085#M1731

Lack of local DNS support is a serious feature gap in this otherwise excellent home product. And enabling it would be trivial for Netgear. Simply adding an option to the LAN setup page for "Enable Local DNS Resolution" and using that to trigger addition of the following line to /etc/dnsmasq.conf: addn-hosts=/tmp/dhcpd_hostlist This is a one line change to a configuration file, that could be done via a simple web interface option setting.

"""

After a few weeks, here is the resolution I received from Netgear Technical Support:

"""

Hi Perry, Thank you for your waiting. According to our Senior Technician Team, as of the moment, the feature similar to "using a dnsmasq feature called addn-hosts", is not available on at the moment on Netgear Orbi router. I apologize. We will need to submit this feature request to Engineering Team. As they are the one who evaluates features to be added on all Netgear devices. They base the features on the customer's wants and needs for a certain router to use. So the more the request the higher the chance that this feature is to be added. In order to endorse the case to the appropriate team we will need to close the case so as to tag this accordingly. On the time frame it will be added on the router, we do do not have the appropriate time information, however you will be notified with this through email or via support site which www.netgear.com or via community site, https://community.netgear.com/. It will surely be added through firmware so make sure your firmware is always updated It was a pleasure assisting you. Kind Regards, Darling NETGEAR Support

"""

As suggested, I opened this thread on the Community Site, so that when/if this feature is implemented by Netgear Engineering, we can discuss. I would have added this to the other thread on Orbi Local DNS (linked above) but it was closed due to inactivity. 

Thanks,

Perry