Does this actually work? - routerguide RT N66u

[randomName]

Does this actually work, and how would I set up my router up?

"Get Faster Internet by Manual DNS" link

 

[coxhaus]

Testing DNS is a good idea. Usually your ISP will have the fastest DNS.

I think the part it leaves out is locking your DNS to the DNS servers you chose. To lock the DNS servers I create a firewall rule to allow the chosen DNS servers on port 53. Then I create a rule to block all other DNS servers on port 53. Usually I cover both TCP/UDP just to be safe.

Once these rules are in place it does not matter whether you use your router or you manually assign DNS server to every workstation. No rogue DNS servers are allowed.

The ways to assign DNS is to use DHCP or you can manually assign DNS servers on each PC.

 

[MarkyPancake]

I've experimented with OpenDNS and Google DNS, but always end up with slightly better performance using my ISP's DNS servers.

 

[randomName]

Ok, sounds like I am doing it wrong. I manually entered the DNS numbers I seen on the "Network Map\Internet Status" page, into the "Wan\DNS" settings. I used those same numbers on my IPv4 DNS setting at the adapter Properties level.

 

[sfx2000]

Sometimes yes, sometimes no...

Netflix, Google, and others - many have put content aggregation boxes inside the ISP networks... if the ISP has fast DNS servers, you'll be ok using theirs for most content...

 

[randomName]

Say if I wanted to add my "Default gateway:" to my IPv4 properties under "Use the following IP address:" where would I find that? Would that be listed in the Router?

EDIT: nm, it's ipconfig in CMD prompt, duh, hah. thanks, n sorry

 

[Nullity]

AsusWRT uses dnsmasq as a dns forwarder/cache, and I think the default is to try every configured DNS server (you can set more than 2) simultaneously. The DNS server with the quickest response wins. http://lists.thekelleys.org.uk/pipermail/dnsmasq-discuss/2007q1/001158.html

Although namebench's intent is logical, whenever I tried it (years ago), it saturated my connection causing the results to be very inconsistent.

In my limited experience, Google wins every time. You can use "dig" to do DNS requests and it shows millisecond response time. There seem to be 2 primary metrics: response time of a cached result and the response time of a result that the DNS server must authoritatively resolve. Also, for most browsing, the DNS is cached, so I don't think that the choice of DNS is hugely important anymore with caching at the client & router being ubiquitous.

 

[wouterv]

Say if I wanted to add my "Default gateway:" to my IPv4 properties under "Use the following IP address:" where would I find that? Would that be listed in the Router?

EDIT: nm, it's ipconfig in CMD prompt, duh, hah. thanks, n sorry

I am not sure you understand what you try to discuss or ask.
DNS and Default Gateway are two totally different settings.

DNS are the Yellow Pages for the Internet: when you request an Internet Site (e.g. www.snbforums.com), DNS makes sure your request gets properly directed to the actual, real location of the machine that hosts the requested Internet service.
There are numerous of these "Yellow Pages" or DNS available.
Usually by default you will use the one that is controlled by your ISP.
No one stops you to manually assign a DNS of your choice (e.g. provided by Google or Open DNS). DNS assigment can be done in your router or local in a client, or left Auto.
The faster the DNS is able to find the location, the quicker your Internet seems to be.
Another solution is to remember the location yourself, and instead of using a "URL" (www.snbforums.com), you type in an IP address (e.g. 192.168.1.1).
Problem is that Internet services tend to move at times and your information gets outdated. DNS shall be kept updated automatically.
Also, various websites keep mirror servers at different world wide locations: DNS makes sure you will be connected to the nearest server (selecting a fast but "far away" DNS server, does not allways give you the fastest final connection).

The Default Gateway setting tells your local computers the way out to the Internet, from the local LAN in your home to the outside world, the WAN. The Default Gateway is usually the LAN IP address of your router.