DNS Addressing - How to Change in Windows 7

Introduction​

   Information

This tutorial is to guide you, the user, in changing your DNS address to (hopefully) a better alternative. OpenDNS, one of said alternatives, will be used as our main example but there are many others out there. Now while OpenDNS is great, it isn't for everyone: The best way to find the best one for you is to consult the link in the tutorial for a list of alternatives and choose the best (testing one yourself first hand here is key).

OpenDNS is a free, powerful, and easy to use DNS alternative best suited for people in the US and London areas.

Here is a direct quote from their site:

OpenDNS is the leading provider of free security and infrastructure services that make the Internet safer through integrated Web content filtering, anti-phishing and DNS. OpenDNS services enable consumers and network administrators to secure their networks from online threats, reduce costs and enforce Internet-use policies. OpenDNS is used today by millions of users and organizations around the world.

Now the question that you may ask is how this may benefit you? Well the default DNS server provided by ISPs tend to be slower than OpenDNS because of promotional offers included in said servers or the ISP doesn't have a good quality server to begin with (would Verizon please stand up?). This means that by using OpenDNS not only will your surfing be generally faster but any promotional offers that said ISP might try to spam you with or any phishing attacks will be blocked. To summarize, OpenDNS provides an all around better web experience PLUS its free so why not give it a try? Now with all good stories there are two sides. With the advantages that I have described, there are disadvantages. Now while I could myself describe what these are, I felt that a fellow member by the name of Charles Kane did it better than I could have with his scenario given. Please read this quote given and all credit goes to him for this part:

1. Anyone can use OpenDNS safely.
2. Free optional registration with OpenDNS enables the control panel which allows you to use preset content filtering, whitelisting and blacklisting of websites.
3. OpenDNS claims surfing speed and stability improvements. Speed may be enhanced with the centralized caching of internet addresses. The benefits of this claim should be weighed against your location (OpenDNS has 8 servers in the US and one in London with one planned for Hong Kong), the quality of your own ISPs caching, and particularly whether your ISP is using any particular servers to provide improved speeds in the seving of content.

As an example, for an Australian, the OpenDNS resolvers are at least 12 hops away (roughly 200ms) and the local server a maximum 4 hops (about 40ms) so the benefits may be reduced. Speed improvements for sites cached by your ISPs servers, especially common sites, are likely to be insignificant as network latency dominates DNS resolution time. The Pacific Ocean is the problem.

High quality ISPs (such as many of those in Australia), especially those that provide additional benefits such as Akamai delivered content delivered from servers within the local network will also be a major consideration. Akamai delivered content may be particularly important with streaming video and audio and big downloads (including Microsoft Download and Microsoft Update).

OpenDNS may give the greatest benefits if you are with a crappy ISP, relatively close to OpenDNS servers, if you want the benefits of their user control panel (filtering), or mainly access addresses unlikely to be cached by your ISP. OpenDNS server provision in North America makes OpenDNS particularly attractive for North American users.

Now to setup OpenDNS (or your other alternative) is rather easy and can be accomplished in less than a couple of minutes...

   Tip

You may also elect to sign up for an account at their website. It is also free and you will able to customize web site filtering and ad management....quite a handy control panel for your internet browsing experience (especially businesses that need content control).

   Tip

If you feel that OpenDNS is not for you than please consult this comprehensive list PortForward.com - Free Help Setting up Your Router or Firewall to find one near you! Just replace the numbers given here with the numbers given for your DNS server of choice from that page or anywhere else; these steps still apply.

Here's How: 1. Open the Control Panel.

2. Open up Network and Internet and go to the Network and Sharing Center.
3. Click on Change adapter settings on the left hand panel.
4. This will bring up a list of adapters present on your computer. Most people will have a Local Area Connection while laptop users will add a Wireless Network Connection and possibly a Bluetooth Network Connection...go ahead and right click on Local Area Connection and click on Properties.
NOTE: These steps do not change if you are modifying the Wireless Network Connection instead
5. If prompted by UAC, click on Yes.

6. Highlight Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) and click on properties.
7. In the properties window you will see a few radio boxes with both of them saying Obtain an IP/DNS Address Automatically....we will leave the IP address alone and will change the Obtain DNS....to use the following: In the Preferred DNS server boxes enter this sequence: 208.67.222.222

In the Alternate DNS server boxes enter this sequence: 208.67.220.220

8. Check the validate settings upon exit (Optional) check box, click OK, and then Close to finish. (See screenshot above)

9. Windows will check your settings (if you checked the option above) and you will be finished! Now start surfing to feel the effects of a quicker and more secure browsing experience!

   Tip

For more info on OpenDNS don't hesitate to ask here or visit their website at OpenDNS | Providing A Safer And Faster Internet

   Tip

If you happen to be managing a network under a router, this tip will save you some time. If you change the router's DNS settings instead of each computer on the network than as long as each computer is set to Obtain a DNS Address Automatically, your choice of a DNS server will be applied to all the computers. Please consult the manual of your router or their respective website to do this.

Hope it helps,
Chris

 

[Zidane24]

two things i don't like about opendns. Try entering address CNN and you get an OpenDNS page not CNN.COM. This is if you have the option that adds .com to your address.

Secondly OpenDNS uses google.com for something. I often see it on my status bar before I get to my site.

Trying Advantage right now and CNN works just fine. Will keep an eye if it links out to Google.

I just tried that in firefox 3.5 (which does that for you) and it found it with np....and it could be comparing a google search right fast to find exactly where you want to go (that was the best guess I could come up with at the spur of a moment....if anyone can give insight....please do)

 

[oidicle]

I had to switch to DNSAdvantage, because they have a server located near me(Johannesburg, South Africa and I live in Mozambique, it shares a boarder with SA)... As to speed improvements, well I think it's the same as openDNs, haven't noticed any difference, I just use it because of the location. So, yea, that's about it.....

@ charles Kane,
DNSAdvantage also has a server in Australia, have you tried it?

 

[swarfega]

Potential users of OpenDNS might also want to read this article.

 

[Barman58]

Thanks Nick,
I am personally pleased that OpenDNS's default is to if in doubt - block.
The swift action of the OpenDNS site in thi current climate is also refreshing

 

[SIW2]

I have been using OpenDNS a long while - so they err on the side of caution - that's no bad thing. Very Happy with them.

Can't recall ever having been redirected to the OpenDNS page.

Haven't tried Advantage - no reason to think it isn't excellent too.

 

[JoHn87]

i've been using open dns for a couple of months now.

it far better than the bt dns servers here in uk, they got some issues.

my whole home network is using open dns

 

[TheSchaft]

Yet another DNS alternative - Secure DNS

 

[oidicle]

Yet another DNS alternative - Secure DNS

I had a problem using Secure DNS, for some reason I couldn't view nor download some images from SF, particularly the Post your desktops" thread, I've reverted to DNS Advantage...

 

[swarfega]

Google have just launched a new DNS service! Google Public DNS

 

[xXSevenXx]

Google have just launched a new DNS service! Google Public DNS

I just changed mine to google, and a torrent I was D/L jumped from 40kbs to 450+kbs, is this a coincidence, or was my ISP throttling my D/L speed?

 

[swarfega]

This is why I never use ISP DNS.

 

[rsvr85]

Thanks for the tutorial guys

Why don't we change TCP/IPv6 too?

Swarf - Who's your ISP? Which DNS Server do you use?
I use BT and Googles DNS and don't see much difference, just curious where you get best results as we are only 50 miles or so apart.

 

[Zidane24]

Thanks for the tutorial guys

Why don't we change TCP/IPv6 too?

I am glad to see folks using what was my first tutorial

 

[LFB]

using right now the new Google Public DNS...

Seems faster than OpenDNS for me... I liked

 

[Barman58]

The last test I did - I will have to dig out the test app again - the following were the fastest for the UK

Primary 4.2.2.5
Secondary 4.2.2.3

 

[rsvr85]

The last test I did - I will have to dig out the test app again - the following were the fastest for the UK

Primary 4.2.2.5
Secondary 4.2.2.3

Eagerly awaiting the link Nigel, it'll be interesting to see how much difference there really is.

 

[swarfega]

Thanks for the tutorial guys

Why don't we change TCP/IPv6 too?

Swarf - Who's your ISP? Which DNS Server do you use?
I use BT and Googles DNS and don't see much difference, just curious where you get best results as we are only 50 miles or so apart.

Im with BT as well. Not used GDNS for long enough to say if its better or not really.

 

[Barman58]

If you want to perform real benchmarks on your DNS options have a look here ...

Downloads - namebench - Project Hosting on Google Code

 

[rsvr85]

Thanks Nigel, trying it out now. I'll post my results

 

[Barman58]

I think that's the app I used previously - but not sure . The advantage of something like this is it gives a personal answer, so even someone in he house next door could get different recommendations dependent on their actual ISPs infrastructure