The OpenNIC Project

[ Windows® | Mac® | Unix® ]

To be able to resolve domain names in the alternative Domain Name System via OpenNIC, you must make a minor adjustment to your network connection. Simply follow these step-by-step instructions appropriate for your operating system. You will need to use your Admin account or be logged in as a user that has Administrator Privileges.

Windows® Client Setup

[The examples and screen shots are based on Windows XP®]

Step One:

In the start menu, find the Control Panel and Left *click* on it.

Step 2:

Now find the Network Connections icon and Double **click** on it. (If you don't see icons and in the left hand, top part of the window there is an Option to "Switch to Classic View", switch to Classic View first.)

Step 3:

Now you will need to open the "properties" dialog for your main Internet connection. In this example, it is a wireless network card that connects through a LAN. On your system, this may be a dial-up connection, a DSL connection, a Cable connection, etc..

Right *click* on the icon to invoke the menu, and *click* the "Properties" option.

Step 4:

Next, in the "Connection Properties" dialog that appeared, you will need to scroll down and highlight the "Internet Protocol (TCP/IP)", (don't click on the "check box" as this will disable this protocol.). Once the Protocol is highlighted, *click* on the [Properties] button. This will open a dialog for the "Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) Properties".

Step 5:

If the "Obtain DNS Server automatically" section is in use, you will need to change it to "Use the following DNS server addresses" and then *click* on the [Advanced] button. If there are already addresses in the "Preferred DNS server" and "Alternate DNS server" sections, simply *click* on the [Advanced] button

Step 6:

In the Advanced Properties dialog, towards the top, you will see tabs for [ IP Settings | DNS | WINS | Options ]. Select the DNS tab.

In the top most section of this tab, "DNS Server addresses, in order of use:", you will need to [Add] a new entry. Just *click* on the [Add] button.

Step 7:

This will open a small dialog. Enter one of the following IP Addresses from the current¹ list of OpenNIC DNS servers:

AU,QLD	 58.6.115.42
AU,QLD	 58.6.115.43
FR	 82.229.244.191
FR	 88.191.51.140
US,AK	 216.67.98.38
US,CO	 216.87.84.209
US,TX	 71.170.11.156

Note: This list of servers is queried from the top, down. If one of the servers is not working, the next one in the list will then be queried. Your DNS resolution will be faster if you chose IP Addresses in, or nearer, your country, and place these at the top. FYI: By 'quicker', it is a matter of milliseconds (4-900 msec). But it adds up with other small amounts of time delays.. and turns into seconds.

Step 8:

Now, *click* the [Add] button. You should [Add] at least 3 of the servers from the above list and use the arrows to the right of the field of these IP address you just added to arrange them in the order you want them queried.

Done!

*click* the [OK] buttons until all the dialogs are closed. You may be asked to reboot - if so, until you reboot your DNS may not work as expected.

You should now be able to visit the Main OpenNIC Project Site. In addition to other OpenNIC Sponsored Top Level Domains you also have access to all alt-root Peer Top Level Domain as well. Welcome to the flip-side!

Linux, *BSD, and OS X Client Setup

According to the RESOLVER(5) manpage, you can add up to 3 nameservers (MAXNS). Simply edit /etc/resolv.conf and add nameserver lines or change the IP Addresses if you already have entries:

/etc/resolv.conf

domain local.domain.name

nameserver [IP Address]
nameserver [IP Address]
nameserver [IP Address]

If you happen to be using DHCP on *nix or *BSD you will notice that it generates /etc/resolv.conf, so any direct changes to /etc/resolv.conf will be lost. The man pages for DHCLIENT.CONF(5) and DHCP-OPTIONS(5) point out that in dhclient.conf, you should add this:

/etc/dhclient.conf

option domain-name-servers [IP Address], [IP Address], [IP Address];

If you happen to be using DHCP on OS X, the man page for NETWORKSETUP(8) points out you should "Use this command to specify the IP addresses of servers you want the specified <networkservice> to use to resolve domain names. You can list any number of servers (replace [IP Address] with the IP addresses of domain name servers). If you want to clear all DNS entries for the specified network service, type "empty" in place of the DNS server names.":

networksetup -setdnsservers <networkservice> [IP Address] [IP Address] etc..

Here is the current¹ list of OpenNIC DNS servers:

AU,QLD	 58.6.115.42
AU,QLD	 58.6.115.43
FR	 82.229.244.191
FR	 88.191.51.140
US,AK	 216.67.98.38
US,CO	 216.87.84.209
US,TX	 71.170.11.156

Note: Your DNS resolution will be faster if you chose IP Addresses on, or nearer, your country. If there is not one near you, consider setting up and running a Tier 2 DNS Server. You will find the instructions on how to configure a name server to do this at the OpenNIC Project's Development Site

You should now be able to visit the Main OpenNIC Project Site. In addition to other OpenNIC Sponsored Top Level Domains you also have access to many/all? alt-root Peer Top Level Domains as well. Welcome to the flip-side!