Use a different DNS service

Oct 13, 2025 by wbrum.org 114 views

Introduction

As a Debian 12 user, you may be using Pi-hole as a DNS sinkhole to block ads and malware on your network. However, there may be situations where you need to override the DNS settings to use a different DNS service, such as 1.1.1.1. In this article, we will guide you through the proper way to bypass Pi-hole and override the DNS settings on your Debian 12 server.

Understanding Pi-hole and DNS

Pi-hole is a popular open-source project that runs on a Linux server and acts as a DNS sinkhole. It blocks ads and malware by intercepting DNS requests and redirecting them to a blacklisted DNS server. However, Pi-hole can also be used as a regular DNS server, and in this case, you may want to override the DNS settings to use a different DNS service.

Why Override DNS?

There are several reasons why you may want to override the DNS settings on your Debian 12 server:

Use a different DNS service: You may want to use a different DNS service, such as 1.1.1.1, which is known for its fast and reliable performance.
Bypass Pi-hole: If you're experiencing issues with Pi-hole, such as slow performance or incorrect blocking, you may want to bypass it and use a different DNS service.
Test DNS settings: You may want to test your DNS settings without using Pi-hole to ensure that everything is working correctly.

Method 1: Override DNS using /etc/resolv.conf

One way to override the DNS settings on your Debian 12 server is to edit the /etc/resolv.conf file. This file contains the DNS settings for your system, and you can modify it to use a different DNS service.

Step 1: Backup /etc/resolv.conf

Before making any changes to /etc/resolv.conf, it's a good idea to backup the file to prevent any accidental changes.

sudo cp /etc/resolv.conf /etc/resolv.conf.backup

Step 2: Edit /etc/resolv.conf

Once you've backed up the file, you can edit it to use a different DNS service. Open the file in a text editor:

sudo nano /etc/resolv.conf

Step 3: Add new DNS servers

Add the new DNS servers to the file, separated by spaces. For example, to use 1.1.1.1 as the primary DNS server and 1.1.1.2 as the secondary DNS server, you would add the following lines:

nameserver 1.1.1.1
nameserver 1.1.1.2

Step 4: Save and restart

Save the changes to the file and restart the network service to apply the changes:

sudo service networking restart

Method 2: Override DNS using /etc/dhcp/dhclient.conf

Another way to override the DNS settings on your Debian 12 server is to edit the /etc/dhcp/dhclient.conf file. This file contains the DHCP client configuration, and you can modify it to use a different DNS service.

Step 1: Backup /etc/dhcp/dhclient.conf

Before making any changes to /etc/dhcp/dhclient.conf, it's a good idea to backup the file to prevent any accidental changes.

sudo cp /etc/dhcp/dhclient.conf /etc/dhcp/dhclient.conf.backup

Step 2: Edit /etc/dhcp/dhclient.conf

Once you've backed up the file, you can edit it to use a different DNS service. Open the file in a text editor:

sudo nano /etc/dhcp/dhclient.conf

Step 3: Add new DNS servers

Add the new DNS servers to the file, separated by spaces. For example, to use 1.1.1.1 as the primary DNS server and 1.1.1.2 as the secondary DNS server, you would add the following lines:

prepend domain-name-servers 1.1.1.1;
prepend domain-name-servers 1.1.1.2;

Step 4: Save and restart

Save the changes to the file and restart the network service to apply the changes:

sudo service networking restart

Conclusion

In this article, we have shown you how to bypass Pi-hole and override the DNS settings on your Debian 12 server. We have covered two methods: overriding DNS using /etc/resolv.conf and overriding DNS using /etc/dhcp/dhclient.conf. By following these steps, you can use a different DNS service, such as 1.1.1.1, and bypass Pi-hole if needed.

Troubleshooting

If you encounter any issues while overriding the DNS settings, here are some troubleshooting steps you can follow:

Check the DNS settings: Make sure that the DNS settings are correct and that the new DNS servers are reachable.
Check the network configuration: Make sure that the network configuration is correct and that the network interface is up and running.
Check the Pi-hole configuration: Make sure that Pi-hole is configured correctly and that it is not interfering with the new DNS settings.

Additional Resources

If you need more information on how to override the DNS settings on your Debian 12 server, here are some additional resources you can consult:

Debian documentation: The official Debian documentation provides detailed information on how to configure the DNS settings on a Debian system.
Pi-hole documentation: The official Pi-hole documentation provides detailed information on how to configure Pi-hole and how to override the DNS settings.
Online forums: Online forums, such as the Debian forums and the Pi-hole forums, provide a wealth of information and resources on how to override the DNS settings on a Debian system.
Bypass Pi-hole to Override DNS in Debian 12: Q&A =====================================================

Introduction

In our previous article, we showed you how to bypass Pi-hole and override the DNS settings on your Debian 12 server. However, we understand that you may have questions and concerns about the process. In this article, we will answer some of the most frequently asked questions about bypassing Pi-hole and overriding the DNS settings on a Debian 12 server.

Q: Why do I need to bypass Pi-hole?

A: You may need to bypass Pi-hole if you're experiencing issues with it, such as slow performance or incorrect blocking. You may also want to use a different DNS service, such as 1.1.1.1, which is known for its fast and reliable performance.

Q: How do I know if Pi-hole is interfering with my DNS settings?

A: If you're experiencing issues with your DNS settings, such as slow performance or incorrect blocking, it's possible that Pi-hole is interfering with them. You can check the Pi-hole logs to see if there are any issues with the DNS settings.

Q: Can I use both Pi-hole and a different DNS service at the same time?

A: Yes, you can use both Pi-hole and a different DNS service at the same time. However, you will need to configure the different DNS service to use a different port or IP address than Pi-hole.

Q: How do I configure the different DNS service to use a different port or IP address?

A: To configure the different DNS service to use a different port or IP address, you will need to edit the /etc/resolv.conf file and add the new DNS servers with the correct port or IP address. For example, to use 1.1.1.1 as the primary DNS server and 1.1.1.2 as the secondary DNS server, you would add the following lines:

nameserver 1.1.1.1:53
nameserver 1.1.1.2:53

Q: What if I'm using a different DNS service that doesn't support the same port as Pi-hole?

A: If you're using a different DNS service that doesn't support the same port as Pi-hole, you will need to configure the different DNS service to use a different port or IP address. You can do this by editing the /etc/resolv.conf file and adding the new DNS servers with the correct port or IP address.

Q: Can I use a different DNS service that doesn't support the same protocol as Pi-hole?

A: Yes, you can use a different DNS service that doesn't support the same protocol as Pi-hole. However, you will need to configure the different DNS service to use a different protocol, such as TCP or UDP.

Q: How do I configure the different DNS service to use a different protocol?

A: To configure the different DNS service to use a different protocol, you will need to edit the /etc/resolv.conf file and add the new DNS servers with the correct protocol. For example, to use 1.1.1.1 as the primary DNS server and 1.1.1.2 as the secondary DNS server using TCP, you would add the following lines:

nameserver 1.1.1.1:53 tcp
nameserver 1.1.1.2:53 tcp

Q: What if I'm using a different DNS service that doesn't support the same DNS protocol as Pi-hole?

A: If you're using a different DNS service that doesn't support the same DNS protocol as Pi-hole, you will need to configure the different DNS service to use a different DNS protocol. You can do this by editing the /etc/resolv.conf file and adding the new DNS servers with the correct DNS protocol.

Q: Can I use a different DNS service that doesn't support the same DNS record type as Pi-hole?

A: Yes, you can use a different DNS service that doesn't support the same DNS record type as Pi-hole. However, you will need to configure the different DNS service to use a different DNS record type.

Q: How do I configure the different DNS service to use a different DNS record type?

A: To configure the different DNS service to use a different DNS record type, you will need to edit the /etc/resolv.conf file and add the new DNS servers with the correct DNS record type. For example, to use 1.1.1.1 as the primary DNS server and 1.1.1.2 as the secondary DNS server using the A record type, you would add the following lines:

nameserver 1.1.1.1:53 a
nameserver 1.1.1.2:53 a

Conclusion

In this article, we have answered some of the most frequently asked questions about bypassing Pi-hole and overriding the DNS settings on a Debian 12 server. We hope that this information has been helpful in answering your questions and concerns about the process.

Additional Resources

If you need more information on how to bypass Pi-hole and override the DNS settings on a Debian 12 server, here are some additional resources you can consult:

Debian documentation: The official Debian documentation provides detailed information on how to configure the DNS settings on a Debian system.
Pi-hole documentation: The official Pi-hole documentation provides detailed information on how to configure Pi-hole and how to override the DNS settings.
Online forums: Online forums, such as the Debian forums and the Pi-hole forums, provide a wealth of information and resources on how to bypass Pi-hole and override the DNS settings on a Debian 12 server.