How to Use a Proxy on OpenDNS

OpenDNS is a popular Domain Name Resolution (DNS) service that allows individuals and organizations to take advantage of its fast servers for resolving domain names. The service offers a faster and more reliable means of translating domain names into actual IP addresses than do most Internet service providers. OpenDNS offers a range of DNS services that help to increase name resolution speed and improve network performance. To take advantage of OpenDNS services, however, sometimes Web proxy servers require changes so that the software knows where to direct DNS requests.

Things You'll Need

• Web proxy software (such as Squid or Dan's Guardian)

Instructions

1. Open the proxy software's configuration file in a text editor such as Notepad. For example, the configuration file for Squid is "squid.conf." Click "File/Open" and browse to the Squid folder that contains the configuration file, then click "Open."

2. Locate the DNS parameter setting for the proxy software. Look for an entry similar to "dns_nameservers" or "dns_server."

3. Enter the following IP addresses next to the "dns_nameservers" or similar label:

   208.67.222.222

   208.67.220.220

4. Restart the Web proxy server software. The proxy server now directs all DNS requests through OpenDNS instead of the Internet service provider.

References

• OpenDNS: Best Practices
• Linux Windows Install Setup Configuration Project: Configure and Set Up Squid Cache Proxy Server on Fedora Core
• DansGuardian: DansGuardian 2.2.x Detailed Installation Guide