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zakhooi's avatar
zakhooi
Tutor
Feb 15, 2024

Nighthawk(R) X4S R7800 -> Howto specify the DNS server for DHCP clients?

Hi, I have a Nighthawk(R) X4S R7800. My DHCP clients use the router itself as the DNS service. However, I have a pihole DNS server running in my LAN and I want to for the DHCP clients to use pihol...
plemans's avatar
plemans
Guru - Experienced User
Feb 15, 2024

If you want the pihole to have "per device" values, it needs to be the DHCP server. 

You'd enable it on the pihole and disable dhcp on the R7800. 

https://discourse.pi-hole.net/t/how-do-i-use-pi-holes-built-in-dhcp-server-and-why-would-i-want-to/3026

https://www.reddit.com/r/pihole/comments/nxqz6f/pesky_netgear_router_settings/

 

the pihole forum is going to be a better resource for what you're attempting versus the forums. I think I'm one of the few on here that use a pihole. Problem is I switch/tests routers so frequently that I leave the router managing dhcp as its something I have to test. 

 

 

zakhooi's avatar
zakhooi
Tutor
Feb 15, 2024

Well, it doesn't have to be like that from a technical point of view but due to Netgears limitations that would be the alternative. 
I was just hoping for a solution on the side of the DHCP server in de router.

  • plemans's avatar
    plemans
    Guru - Experienced User
    Feb 15, 2024

    there isn't much of anything for controls for the built in dhcp/dns side functions. 

    A pihole takes such minimal resources it could easily be integrated into the newer routers but it doesn't happen

    • zakhooi's avatar
      zakhooi
      Tutor
      Feb 15, 2024

      I am running Voxel already.

      • FURRYe38's avatar
        FURRYe38
        Guru - Experienced User
        Feb 15, 2024

        Ah ok. Then you'll need to post over in the smallnetbuilders forums for help and information since you have that loaded then. 


        Good Luck. 

  • FURRYe38's avatar
    FURRYe38
    Guru - Experienced User
    Feb 15, 2024

    Just an FYI, all NG routers have a DNS proxy, You can set any custom DNS address on the router, however any connected device gets a 192.168.1.1 DNS address on the device. Something that has been in NG routers since the beginning. There is no way to change this behavior on the router using stock FW. You can try and see if Voxel's 3rd party FW could allow this. Been a while since I have loaded his stuff on a router. He does good work and continues to update his FW for the R7800. Only other router Mfr i know of that has this similar DNS proxy is D-Link however they allow there's to be disabled, thus allowing any DNS configured on the router to pass thru to connected devices. 

    zakhooi wrote:

    Well, it doesn't have to be like that from a technical point of view but due to Netgears limitations that would be the alternative. 
    I was just hoping for a solution on the side of the DHCP server in de router.