I set up Pi-hole on my home network, and the internet feels like a completely different place

There’s a good chance that your internet’s working just fine, but are you really getting the most out of it? You’re probably using the modem that came with your internet package, and maybe you’ve added your own router to the mix. But there’s one change that has the power to revolutionize your home network and everything you connect to it. It’s a game-changer that’s been hiding in plain sight, and it’s all about the way your devices interact with the internet.

Breaking Free from ISP DNS Servers

When it comes to your home network, your internet service provider (ISP) is probably providing you with DNS servers to use. But did you know that you can choose to use DNS servers from other companies? Google and Cloudflare are two popular options that are often faster and more reliable than the servers offered by your ISP. But I wanted even more control and even better performance, so I rolled my own.

These days, my home network runs on two Pi-hole DNS servers powered by virtualized Ubuntu machines. And now that I’ve tasted the benefits, I’ll never go back to using anyone else’s servers. With Pi-hole, I have more control over how devices use my network, and it’s made a huge difference in my online experience.

Why Pi-hole is a Game-Changer

Pi-hole is a lightweight DNS server that was originally designed to run on low-powered Raspberry Pi devices. But the reality is that it can be installed on almost anything. Whether you install it on a Raspberry Pi, a PC, or even a NAS device, you’ll get a DNS server alongside other optional features, including a handy DHCP server. This means you can have more control over how devices connect to your network, and it’s a major advantage over using your ISP’s DNS servers.

One of the key benefits of Pi-hole is its speed. It’s quicker for your devices to make a DNS request to a local device than one that’s somewhere on the internet. But the speed also comes from caching, and it’s this aspect that really changes the game. Any time a device tries to connect to a website, it first makes a DNS request. But with a Pi-hole server, the IP address it returns by way of a response is cached for future use. The next time another request for the same website is made, Pi-hole already knows which IP address to send back.

Any DNS entries returned from Pi-hole’s cache do so incredibly quickly. We’re talking a few microseconds rather than tens or maybe hundreds of milliseconds. While that might not sound like a lot of time, the real benefits are found in the aggregate. You might be surprised by how many DNS queries your devices make each day. Take all of these requests into consideration, and those milliseconds soon add up to real time savings.

Why You Need Pi-hole in Your Home Network

So, why do you need Pi-hole in your home network? There are several reasons why it’s a must-have for anyone who wants to get the most out of their internet connection.

1. Improved Speed

As we mentioned earlier, Pi-hole’s caching capabilities make it incredibly fast. By caching DNS entries, Pi-hole can return IP addresses in a matter of microseconds, which is a huge improvement over the tens or hundreds of milliseconds it takes for your devices to make a DNS request to a remote server. This means that your devices will be able to connect to websites and online services much faster, which is especially important for people who rely on their internet connection for work or entertainment.

But the speed benefits of Pi-hole don’t stop there. Because Pi-hole is a local DNS server, it’s also able to reduce the amount of latency that occurs when your devices make DNS requests. This means that your devices will be able to connect to websites and online services with much less delay, which is especially important for applications that require real-time communication, such as online gaming or video conferencing.

2. Increased Security</hassistant

By using Pi-hole, you can also increase the security of your home network. Pi-hole includes a number of features that can help block malicious traffic and protect your devices from online threats.

One of the key security features of Pi-hole is its ability to block ads and trackers. By default, Pi-hole blocks a wide range of ads and trackers, which can help reduce the amount of unwanted traffic on your network. This can also help improve your online security by reducing the amount of data that’s collected about you and your browsing habits.

Pi-hole also includes a number of other security features, including the ability to block malicious domains and IP addresses. This can help protect your devices from online threats such as malware and phishing attacks. Additionally, Pi-hole includes a feature that allows you to block specific websites or online services, which can be useful for parents who want to restrict access to certain types of content.

3. Greater Control

Using Pi-hole also gives you greater control over how devices use your network. With Pi-hole, you can set up custom DNS blacklists and whitelists, which allow you to control which websites and online services are accessible on your network.

Pi-hole also includes a number of other features that can help you manage your network, including the ability to set up custom DNS servers and block specific IP addresses. This can be useful for businesses or organizations that need to manage large networks and ensure that only authorized devices have access to the internet.

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How to Set Up Pi-hole on Your Home Network

Setting up Pi-hole on your home network is a relatively straightforward process. Here’s a step-by-step guide to getting started:

Step 1: Choose a Device

The first step in setting up Pi-hole is to choose a device to run it on. You can install Pi-hole on a Raspberry Pi, a PC, or even a NAS device. The device you choose will depend on your specific needs and the level of performance you require.

For most home networks, a Raspberry Pi or a PC will be sufficient. However, if you have a very large network or require high-performance DNS services, you may want to consider using a NAS device or a dedicated server.

Step 2: Install Pi-hole

Once you’ve chosen a device, the next step is to install Pi-hole. You can do this by following the instructions on the Pi-hole website. The installation process is relatively straightforward and should take only a few minutes to complete.

During the installation process, you’ll be prompted to choose a username and password for your Pi-hole device. Make sure to choose a strong password and store it securely, as you’ll need it to access your Pi-hole device.

Step 3: Configure Pi-hole

Once Pi-hole is installed, the next step is to configure it. This involves setting up your DNS settings, configuring your blacklist and whitelist, and setting up any other features you want to use.

The Pi-hole website has a comprehensive guide to configuring Pi-hole, which should provide you with everything you need to know to get started.

Step 4: Test Your Pi-hole Device

Once you’ve configured your Pi-hole device, the next step is to test it. You can do this by using a tool such as dnsleaktest.com to test your DNS settings and ensure that your Pi-hole device is working correctly.

Additionally, you can use tools such as Wireshark to capture DNS traffic on your network and ensure that your Pi-hole device is correctly filtering out unwanted traffic.