Topic: OpenDNS with SME Server

[troykd]

I've been having some DNS issues for the past couple months.  Looks like my ISP's DNS is the problem.  Anyway, I wanted to use OpenDNS as a replacement for my ISP's DNS Server.

After reading a lot of posts, I didn't find a definitive answer on using opendns.  I tried putting a opendns IP in the server configuration (after logging in directly to the server) and it worked!  I don't have all of the features of OpenDNS since I'm not logging into an account but heck, it works better than Cox.

The secure website that was giving us loading problems is now loading up without a hitch.

[pherder]

I have been using OpenDNS for about 1/2 year on my SME server for the same reason you are, I couldn't access some web sites using SME what I could using my Linksys router.

I had a Linksys router die on me (it was its power supply that I could not get a replacement for) and so I tried using my SME server as a Gateway (again) and still had the same problems accessing a couple of web sites I normally use (www.britishcarforum.com for one).  I went ahead and purchased another Linksys router just to get running again. 

Sometime later I saw an advert for OpenDNS and tried it on my local machine and though, why not try it on my SME server as a gateway again... worked right off, I was able to access the aboved named web site and I put the Linksys in storage, just in case.

YMMV.

[Knuddi]

I tried OpenDNS for some months and yes it works well but I noticed some performance problem every now and then. The problems resulted in slow internet access that I at first just thought was overloaded lines. I have turned away again and is now using the build-in DNS server in the SME.

[shawnbishop]

I used OpenDNS successfully on my SME Servers, with no problems, the only issue I have had is slow DNS lookups that leads to some web pages not loading.., but a refresh loads them..

I am looking at the OpenDNS as causing the problem..

[mercyh]

If you are not using OpenDNS filtering and logging features, I would suggest using the default DNS in SME. SME looks at root DNS servers and is independent of your ISP's DNS servers.

I use openDNS but use it for the filtering and logging features available. This basically allows me to run an internet filter that does not have the connection issues that a proxy such as Dansguardian has with some connections.

[Franco]

I wouldn't recommend OpenDNS for various reasons, the first being what is being already discussed here (lag).
If you have a computer and need a DNS server, then fine go with opendns.
Otherwise use SME as the DNS server, besides being capable of doing the same kind of blockage that OpenDNS does (you can use the hostnames and addresses panel or you can go with http://wiki.contribs.org/Block_Adware_Sites ), you still have dans and squidguard as options.
And a fast DNS server caching too!