# My own DNS server? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 8, 2005, 11:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-own-dns-server/298375 "2005-04-08T11:42:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Earthworm\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f07891/32.png) [@Earthworm\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earthworm_Jim)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2005, 11:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-own-dns-server/298375/1 "2005-04-08T11:42:33Z")
I have a DSL connection at home, and I’m always having name-resolution problems. It seems like every other link results in a “[www.whatever.com](http://www.whatever.com) could not be found. Please check the name and try again.” message. So, I want to set up my own DNS server, just to do name resolution. I’ve got an old PC with an 8GB drive, which I figure is plenty for a linux distro & whatever files I’ll need for resolution. If I follow chapter 3 [here](http://www.tldp.org/HOWTO/DNS-HOWTO.html) will I get what I want? Keep in mind, I don’t to make my stuff visible to the world, I just want to stop relying on my providers apparently-flaky name servers. Any other general advice? Thanks, ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2005, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-own-dns-server/298375/2 "2005-04-08T12:51:52Z")
I’m not sure that having your own DNS server would solve your problem. Your server would still need to aggregate addresses from other DNS servers, probably from the flakey DNS server you’re already using. Why not sniff around the internet for some more reliable DNS servers, and point your name resolution at them? I recall needing to do this when I was on dial-up or ISDN a few years ago, when my ISPs DNS servers sucked. I don’t recall how I sniffed out available DNS server, I think I just tried some of the local ISPs and pretty quickly found a non-suckful DNS server. ---
**Author:** ![Earthworm\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f07891/32.png) [@Earthworm\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earthworm_Jim)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2005, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-own-dns-server/298375/3 "2005-04-08T14:24:55Z")
I assumed that caching names I manage to resolve would help some, based on these: > [@](#): > > A caching only name server will find the answer to name queries and remember the answer the next time you need it. This will shorten the waiting time the next time significantly, especially if you’re on a slow connection. > … > With cached answers there is the possibility that the answer is out of date, but the origin servers can control the time cached answers should be considered valid, so there is a high probability that the answer you get is valid. I assumed that since my computer would be caching the names it resolved, it would help me avoid using their server altogether. Also, I’d be giving it a list of roots, so it shouldn’t have any problems find _someone_ to resolve names. While I like to think I’m computer-savvy, networking is probably my weakest topic, so my assumptions could be 100% wrong. ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2005, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-own-dns-server/298375/4 "2005-04-08T14:53:52Z")
Well, your weak DNS expertise has already exceeded mine. I’ll wait for someone more knowledgable to swing by. I’d still just try finding a few open DNS servers out there. Much easier than setting up your own. But that’s me. ---
**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2005, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-own-dns-server/298375/5 "2005-04-08T21:39:58Z")
Double-check that you have the ID addresses of your ISP’s DNS servers set up correctly. Odds are good that they have two or three (or more) to pick from. If you have their IPs correct, try swapping them.\