Orbi local domain name?

[Southpaw32]

Ok, dumb questions... What is the local domain name of the Orbi router?

I think I know the answer, but I can't find anything that confirms it.

[CrimpOn · Accepted solution]

This description implies that the local domain name can be "anything" (bearing in mind that it will probably block any legitimate domain that is identical.  e.g. amazon.com isn't a good choice.)

https://discourse.pi-hole.net/t/howto-using-pi-hole-as-lan-dns-server/533 

Digging further, it appears that there are multiple methods, so it may be prudent to look through the latest documentation.  I just updated to Pi-hole 5, so there may be updates.

https://discourse.pi-hole.net/t/what-is-the-correct-way-to-get-local-hostname-resolution-without-pih... 

And, it looks like I found a hint to your deduction.  Some routers create the domain ".local" (Ubiquiti was mentioned).  Makes a lot of sense.

AND..... (drum roll), Pi-hole 5 actually has a menu entry for "Local DNS Records".  I added records for "printer.local" and "orbi.local". Windows ping and Firefox resolve them.  (Aha.  It's a lot easier to see my printer ink levels from the built-in web access than to open the HP printer utility.  This exercise has tought an old dog a 'new trick'.)  Decided ".local" was too much to type, so the printer is now "printer.x".

[CrimpOn]

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@Southpaw32 wrote:

Ok, dumb questions... What is the local domain name of the Orbi router?

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Some context would help. There have been a number of posts regarding how Orbi handles DNS queries, and a recurring theme is that there is no way to resolve "names" in the local LAN.  Some DNS servers, such as the latest Pi-hole, provide the ability to create a file of  "local domain names" and define devices in a configuration file.  In the Pi-hole example, the user creates whatever "domain" they want.

What do you think it is?

[Southpaw32]

Yes, this is in regard to PiHole.

I'm just doing a basic setup, and want to turn on the "Conditional Forwarding" which requires the "IP of your router" and "Local Domain Name"

Thanks!

[CrimpOn · Accepted solution]

This description implies that the local domain name can be "anything" (bearing in mind that it will probably block any legitimate domain that is identical.  e.g. amazon.com isn't a good choice.)

https://discourse.pi-hole.net/t/howto-using-pi-hole-as-lan-dns-server/533 

Digging further, it appears that there are multiple methods, so it may be prudent to look through the latest documentation.  I just updated to Pi-hole 5, so there may be updates.

https://discourse.pi-hole.net/t/what-is-the-correct-way-to-get-local-hostname-resolution-without-pih... 

And, it looks like I found a hint to your deduction.  Some routers create the domain ".local" (Ubiquiti was mentioned).  Makes a lot of sense.

AND..... (drum roll), Pi-hole 5 actually has a menu entry for "Local DNS Records".  I added records for "printer.local" and "orbi.local". Windows ping and Firefox resolve them.  (Aha.  It's a lot easier to see my printer ink levels from the built-in web access than to open the HP printer utility.  This exercise has tought an old dog a 'new trick'.)  Decided ".local" was too much to type, so the printer is now "printer.x".

[feignit]

I still don't quite understand the solution to this. What would I put in this form?

[CrimpOn]

Inline pictures do not appear until approved by a moderator. I believe if you "attach" it using the "Browse" button it can be accessed immediately. 

[feignit]

I wasn't aware of that, thank you

[CrimpOn]

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@feignit wrote:

I wasn't aware of that, thank you

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I have no clue "why" the community forum is set up this way.  If a moderator happens to notice and act on posts quickly, my inline graphics always appeared, and then one day they didn't.  I suppose an "evil doer" could somehow embed nastiness that would do horrible things when a web browser displays the post and having the user specifically open attachments is somehow "safer".

This discussion has demonstrated how little I know about this topic.  Some thoughts:

• As far as I can tell, Orbi has no method to set a "local domain name".  Other routers may.
  I will experiment with this "forwarding" to see "what happens" and report.
• HOWEVER, if the goal is to have the "Top Client" list report how devices are using Pi-hole by "name" rather than by IP address, this appears to work.
  * I used the Pi-hole menu "Local DNS Records" to enter several DNS records (see attachment LocalDNS.jpg).
     My desktop computer, for example, has IP 192.168.1.2.
     My laptop computer has IP 192.168.1.21
  * Before I created these Local DNS Records, the Top Client display would show these devices by their IP address.
  * Afterwards, the Top Client display shows them by "name".  It is a little frustrating that DNS names are not
     case sensitive (e.g. they are all lower case) and cannot have spaces.  Probably could have periods.
     See the second attachment (TopClients.jpg).
• Alas, if I want to open a local web page "by name", the LocalDNS has to have at least one period in it.
  i.e. http://printer fails, whereas http://printer.x succeeds.