Edit Dns Ubuntu

5 min read Oct 11, 2024
Edit Dns Ubuntu

How to Edit DNS Settings in Ubuntu

Ubuntu, a popular Linux distribution, offers a user-friendly environment for managing various aspects of your system, including your DNS settings. DNS (Domain Name System) is crucial for resolving domain names to IP addresses, enabling you to access websites and other online services.

Why Would You Need to Edit DNS Settings in Ubuntu?

There are several reasons why you might need to edit DNS settings in Ubuntu:

  • Improved Performance: Using a public DNS server like Google Public DNS (8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4) or Cloudflare DNS (1.1.1.1 and 1.0.0.1) can often provide faster name resolution compared to your ISP's default DNS servers.
  • Privacy: Some DNS servers provide more privacy by not logging your queries.
  • Troubleshooting: If you're experiencing DNS-related issues, changing your DNS servers can help identify and resolve the problem.
  • Custom Domain Configurations: If you manage your own domain names, you'll need to configure your DNS settings accordingly.

Editing DNS Settings in Ubuntu

You can edit DNS settings in Ubuntu using the Network Manager graphical interface or by manually editing configuration files.

Using Network Manager

  1. Open Network Settings: Click the network icon in the top panel and select "Network Settings."
  2. Choose Wired or Wireless Connection: Click on the connection you want to modify (e.g., Wired or Wi-Fi).
  3. Edit DNS Settings: Click the "IPv4 Settings" tab. Under "Method," select "Automatic (DHCP)" and then click the "Add" button next to "DNS Servers."
  4. Enter DNS Server Addresses: Enter the desired DNS server addresses, separated by spaces or commas.
  5. Apply Changes: Click "Apply" to save your changes.

Editing Configuration Files

  1. Open Terminal: Press Ctrl+Alt+T to open a terminal window.
  2. Identify Network Interface: Run the following command to identify your network interface (e.g., enp0s3):
    ip a
    
  3. Edit Network Configuration File: Open the network configuration file for your interface (e.g., /etc/netplan/01-network-manager-all.yaml) using a text editor:
    sudo nano /etc/netplan/01-network-manager-all.yaml
    
  4. Add DNS Server Addresses: Under the dhcp4 section, add the following line, replacing 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4 with your desired DNS server addresses:
    dhcp4:
        addresses: 10.10.10.10/24
        # ...other settings...
        options:
            dns-nameservers: [8.8.8.8, 8.8.4.4]
    
  5. Apply Changes: Save the file (Ctrl+O) and exit (Ctrl+X).
  6. Restart Network Service: Run the following command to apply the changes:
    sudo netplan apply
    

Testing DNS Settings

Once you've changed your DNS settings, you can test them using the following steps:

  1. Open Terminal: Press Ctrl+Alt+T to open a terminal window.
  2. Run DNS Lookup: Use the dig command to perform a DNS lookup for a website:
    dig www.google.com
    
  3. Check DNS Server: Verify that the "SERVER" section shows the DNS server you specified in your settings.

Conclusion

Editing DNS settings in Ubuntu allows you to customize your network connection and potentially improve performance, privacy, or troubleshoot issues. You can use the Network Manager interface for a simple graphical approach or manually edit configuration files for greater control. Remember to test your changes after editing your DNS settings to ensure they are working correctly.

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