How is the list of preset DNS servers in WAN settings generated?

[wndsrc]

Hi
This isn’t a technical support question like which one to use etc or an ideological one like why isn’t foo or bar server included.

When I look at the available list of preset DNS servers in the WAN settings I get this list in the screenshot (AdGuard, Control-D, Cleanbrowsing).

When I look at the source code eg https://github.com/RMerl/asuswrt-merlin.ng/blob/main/release/src/router/www/ajax/DNS_List.json there are other servers listed there, same as in the dns director file and other files.

How is the list in the webui generated? I couldn’t find any history in the changelog of options being removed like OpenDNS or Cloudflare, but while they are the the source they aren’t shown in the webui list.

Hopefully this makes sense.

 

[dave14305]

Only the entries where “confirmed” equals “Yes” are displayed.

asuswrt-merlin.ng/release/src/router/www/sysdep/FUNCTION/MULTISERVICE_WAN/Advanced_WAN_Content.asp at e95e43cd75a51933fff0554f3c04917e16b1f3f9 · RMerl/asuswrt-merlin.ng

Third party firmware for Asus routers (newer codebase) - RMerl/asuswrt-merlin.ng

github.com

 

[wndsrc]

Thanks!

I can see in the commit logs it will say webui update database and some will be toggled off or renamed.

I can’t see any commit messages explaining the changes further - do you know what goes in to deciding if a server is marked as confirmed? I’ll use Cloudflare as an example of one server that’s received updates to the name etc, but stays unconfirmed, and OpenDNS as another service that was changed to from confirmed to take it off the list.

I’ve tried to find an answer on the forums but didn’t see any results that answered it.

 

[dave14305]

- do you know what goes in to deciding if a server is marked as confirmed? I’ll use Cloudflare as an example of one server that’s received updates to the name etc, but stays unconfirmed, and OpenDNS as another service that was changed to from confirmed to take it off the list.

It is actually an ASUS-maintained list at https://nw-dlcdnet.asus.com/plugin/js/DNS_List.json that Merlin just decided to make static in the firmware and refresh from ASUS' URL every so often. No one knows why Asus does what they do.

But yes, it's a little odd that you can't see it in the list to select the unconfirmed, but the same page will use the list to translate IPs to DNS service providers, regardless of confirmed status.

 

[RMerlin]

Thanks!

I can see in the commit logs it will say webui update database and some will be toggled off or renamed.

I can’t see any commit messages explaining the changes further - do you know what goes in to deciding if a server is marked as confirmed? I’ll use Cloudflare as an example of one server that’s received updates to the name etc, but stays unconfirmed, and OpenDNS as another service that was changed to from confirmed to take it off the list.

I’ve tried to find an answer on the forums but didn’t see any results that answered it.

With stock firmware they are directly downloaded from Asus' website every time you access this page. For Asuswrt-Merlin I chose to keep local copies of all these files within the router itself, so routers won't need to constantly connect with Asus's website.

So all I do is I regularly download the latest copies from their website. I have no idea what they change or why the change it.

 

[wndsrc]

Thanks and appreciate the responses from both of you - can’t get much better than this.

it's a little odd that you can't see it in the list to select the unconfirmed, but the same page will use the list to translate IPs to DNS service providers, regardless of confirmed status.

This is exactly the thing that got me curious in the first place. I could use a provider not in the confirmed list but it would still show as safe or family or fast - so clearly it was recognised.

Mystery solved I think.