I spoke too soon
I am not sure what is going on, but I am now having issues with Google safe search, Parental Controls (DNS filtering) and devices on my network dropping out.
What I am trying to acheive:
1. Force all devices on my network to use OpenDNS....regardless of thier local DNS settings (which I can't always control).
2. Point all devices to google safe search to eliminate image search issue.
Under Firmware 376.49:
1. I simply enabled DNS Filtering under Parental controls and select OpenDNS as the global filter mode and it worked to deliver goal 1 above. I did not try enabling the google safe search at the time.
Under Firmware 378.5
1. Following bibloSNB advice, I changed to Parental controls global filter mode to Router, and under WAN settings change "Connect to DNS Server automatically" to no and then entered the OpenDNS addresses (208.67.222.222 & 208.67.220.220)
2. I also followed RMerlins Wiki entry on enabling google safe search.
This worked to achive both my objectives.....for a few days. I then noticed that not all devices were being restricted and it appeared that devices with local DNS servers set were no longer being forced to use OpenDNS (I am 99.9% sure this was working...but doubt does start to creep in.)
Since then things have gone from bad to Worse to the point that I could not even get OpenDNS working directly from the router, let alone forcing other network devices to use it.
I have tried many steps to address changing all combinations of DNS and DNS filtering enttires; factory reset of router and reload config file (378.5 version....saved after fresh reconfig post upgrade). I even restored 376.49 version, but to no avail. Sometimes router would use OpenDNS, sometimes not (appeared random...could not corollate to change I made) The only way I have now managed to get something working is to set " -LAN - DHCP Server - Forward local domain queries to upstream DNS -" to Yes, and enter OpenDNS server address here. This is in addition to DNS filtering (router) and WAN DNS entries.
This has restored objective 1, but not objective 2. The router resolves DNS for google to safe search properly, but while it does force clients to use OpenDNS it does enforce the DNS masq entries to cover off Google safe search.
This behaviour appeared the same in both FW versions I tried (using config files saved in each FW resepectively). I am completly lost with how something that was working can stop, and that I cannot even rollback to previous working state)
I also now have an issue with a Wifi Music player on the network stopping every 10 minutes. Could be unrelated of course but I don't think so.
I would appreciate any advice out there, as I am in troubleshooting darkness and have tried so many things I no longer no which way is up. I am thinking of a factory reset and clean reconfig (not from settings file) but hesitant due to the time this takes....especially if fixes temporarily and then have same degrading performance behavour.
It would be helpful to understand the functions of the WAN DNS versus LAN DNS versus Parental CONTROL DNS fliterning settings are supposed to be and any order of precendnce.....buller...anyone....
I am not sure what is going on, but I am now having issues with Google safe search, Parental Controls (DNS filtering) and devices on my network dropping out.
What I am trying to acheive:
1. Force all devices on my network to use OpenDNS....regardless of thier local DNS settings (which I can't always control).
2. Point all devices to google safe search to eliminate image search issue.
Under Firmware 376.49:
1. I simply enabled DNS Filtering under Parental controls and select OpenDNS as the global filter mode and it worked to deliver goal 1 above. I did not try enabling the google safe search at the time.
Under Firmware 378.5
1. Following bibloSNB advice, I changed to Parental controls global filter mode to Router, and under WAN settings change "Connect to DNS Server automatically" to no and then entered the OpenDNS addresses (208.67.222.222 & 208.67.220.220)
2. I also followed RMerlins Wiki entry on enabling google safe search.
This worked to achive both my objectives.....for a few days. I then noticed that not all devices were being restricted and it appeared that devices with local DNS servers set were no longer being forced to use OpenDNS (I am 99.9% sure this was working...but doubt does start to creep in.)
Since then things have gone from bad to Worse to the point that I could not even get OpenDNS working directly from the router, let alone forcing other network devices to use it.
I have tried many steps to address changing all combinations of DNS and DNS filtering enttires; factory reset of router and reload config file (378.5 version....saved after fresh reconfig post upgrade). I even restored 376.49 version, but to no avail. Sometimes router would use OpenDNS, sometimes not (appeared random...could not corollate to change I made) The only way I have now managed to get something working is to set " -LAN - DHCP Server - Forward local domain queries to upstream DNS -" to Yes, and enter OpenDNS server address here. This is in addition to DNS filtering (router) and WAN DNS entries.
This has restored objective 1, but not objective 2. The router resolves DNS for google to safe search properly, but while it does force clients to use OpenDNS it does enforce the DNS masq entries to cover off Google safe search.
This behaviour appeared the same in both FW versions I tried (using config files saved in each FW resepectively). I am completly lost with how something that was working can stop, and that I cannot even rollback to previous working state)
I also now have an issue with a Wifi Music player on the network stopping every 10 minutes. Could be unrelated of course but I don't think so.
I would appreciate any advice out there, as I am in troubleshooting darkness and have tried so many things I no longer no which way is up. I am thinking of a factory reset and clean reconfig (not from settings file) but hesitant due to the time this takes....especially if fixes temporarily and then have same degrading performance behavour.
It would be helpful to understand the functions of the WAN DNS versus LAN DNS versus Parental CONTROL DNS fliterning settings are supposed to be and any order of precendnce.....buller...anyone....