Changing DNS server address

Westie123

Hello,

I want to try some free public DNS server addresses instead of the ISP ones. Do I need to change the numbers in both the Network control panel on the mac and in the modem configuration page? Or does the Apple setting override the modem settings?

Thanks.

Sad Professor

Yeah, just setting it in OS X will usually be enough. You dont have to do it in both. But if you want all the computers/devices on your network to use the same DNS settings you can set it on your modem/router. However, if you just set it on the Mac, keep in mind that some apps, such as Firefox, have their own separate DNS settings which bypass the system settings and redirect to the router by default. Proper Mac apps will always use the system settings though.

Westie123

Thanks Sad Professor, for clearing that up.

ainiseoir

Sad Professor wrote: »

Yeah, just setting it in OS X will usually be enough. You dont have to do it in both. But if you want all the computers/devices on your network to use the same DNS settings you can set it on your modem/router. However, if you just set it on the Mac, keep in mind that some apps, such as Firefox, have their own separate DNS settings which bypass the system settings and redirect to the router by default. Proper Mac apps will always use the system settings though.

Thank you, as well, apologies for butting in.
I have an Airport Extreme router and all my peripherals geared toward it.
All my bits and pieces which require a DNS entry have OpenDNS addresses.
I note what you said about not needing to change the modem DNS settings, but seeing the eircom servers on the new efibre modem does not look like a tidy arrangement, not very scientific, I know.
Do you have any thoughts on how to change the DNS servers on these new modems, and what the possible downside of doing so could be?
Regards

Sad Professor

Hey ainiseoir.

I've no experience with Eircom routers, I'm afraid. But if you are just using the Eircom as a modem with the Airport as your router, then all you have to do is change the DNS on the Airport. You can do this using the Airport Utility application.

As for downsides to changing the DNS on the router, none that I can think of provided the DNS servers are reliable.

whiterebel

ainiseoir wrote: »

Thank you, as well, apologies for butting in.
I have an Airport Extreme router and all my peripherals geared toward it.
All my bits and pieces which require a DNS entry have OpenDNS addresses.
I note what you said about not needing to change the modem DNS settings, but seeing the eircom servers on the new efibre modem does not look like a tidy arrangement, not very scientific, I know.
Do you have any thoughts on how to change the DNS servers on these new modems, and what the possible downside of doing so could be?
Regards

Hardly butting in, did you see the date of the last post?

ainiseoir

whiterebel wrote: »

Hardly butting in, did you see the date of the last post?

Oops!