Pi-Hole dnsmasq

Setting up a dnsmasq server on a Raspberry Pi is relatively simple. Here’s a step-by-step guide to get you started:

1. Update Your Raspberry Pi

Before beginning, ensure your Raspberry Pi is up-to-date. Run the following commands in the terminal: bash Copy sudo apt update sudo apt upgrade sudo apt dist-upgrade sudo reboot

2. Install dnsmasq

Install dnsmasq using the following command: bash Copy sudo apt install dnsmasq

3. Backup Default Configuration

Before modifying the configuration, it's always a good idea to back up the original file: bash Copy sudo cp /etc/dnsmasq.conf /etc/dnsmasq.conf.backup

4. Configure dnsmasq

Now, you’ll need to edit the dnsmasq configuration file to suit your needs. bash Copy

sudo nano /etc/dnsmasq.conf

Here are some common settings you might want to modify:

• Set DNS server: If you want your Raspberry Pi to act as a DNS server, add the following line to configure it to forward DNS queries to an upstream DNS provider (e.g., Google's DNS servers).

bash Copy

server=8.8.8.8

Or, use a different DNS provider such as Cloudflare’s 1.1.1.1.

• Configure DHCP range: If you want dnsmasq to handle DHCP (assigning IP addresses to devices on your network), you can set a DHCP range. Add these lines to the file:

bash Copy

interface=eth0 # or wlan0 for wireless, specify your interface dhcp-range=192.168.1.100,192.168.1.200,12h

This gives out IP addresses between 192.168.1.100 and 192.168.1.200, with a lease time of 12 hours. • Set a static IP for your Raspberry Pi (optional but useful if you need your Pi to always have the same IP). If you're using the Pi as a DHCP server, add a line like this to assign a fixed IP address to the Pi:

bash Copy dhcp-host=XX:XX:XX:XX:XX:XX,192.168.1.50

Replace XX:XX:XX:XX:XX:XX with your Raspberry Pi’s MAC address.

5. Restart dnsmasq

Once you’ve made your changes, save the file (press CTRL+X, then Y, then Enter to save and exit). Restart dnsmasq to apply the changes: bash Copy sudo systemctl restart dnsmasq

6. Enable dnsmasq to Start on Boot

Ensure that dnsmasq starts automatically whenever the Raspberry Pi reboots: bash Copy sudo systemctl enable dnsmasq

7. Check the Status

You can check if dnsmasq is running properly by running: bash Copy sudo systemctl status dnsmasq If everything is configured correctly, you should see an active status.

8. Test the DNS Server

To check if the DNS server is working, you can try pinging a domain name from another device on the network or directly from the Raspberry Pi itself: bash Copy ping google.com If you get a response, the DNS server is working correctly.

9. (Optional) Configure Firewall (if necessary)

If you have a firewall on your Raspberry Pi (e.g., ufw), ensure the necessary ports are open for DNS and DHCP: bash Copy sudo ufw allow 53 # DNS port sudo ufw allow 67 # DHCP port

10. (Optional) Set Up Additional Features

DNS Caching: dnsmasq caches DNS queries, so requests should resolve faster.

• DNS for Local Devices: You can configure dnsmasq to resolve local device names, making it easier to connect to devices without needing to remember IP addresses.

• Advanced DHCP Configuration: You can customize DHCP options such as DNS servers, gateway, etc., using dhcp-option in the dnsmasq.conf file.

Conclusion Once these steps are completed, your Raspberry Pi will act as a DNS and DHCP server. You can further customize it by adjusting the settings in /etc/dnsmasq.conf based on your network requirements.