Roku DNS settings - solved

The Roku doesn't have it's own DNS settings and to date I've had to enter Unotelly's DNS settings on my router. This is obviously not ideal as the network traffic on all devices on my network is then redirected via Unotelly's servers.

I found this workaround and even though it refers to Unblock-Us you can use Unotelly's settings instead. Tried it myself and confirm that it works.

http://www.avforums.com/forums/stre...roku-changing-netflix-regions-quick-easy.html

Very clever. Thanks for sharing.

The crux of the solution is installaing a DHCP server on an IP address different to your current DHCP server, as well having a different IP pool/range, and then setting the lease time to 1 year. So the DHCP-assigned network settings on the Roku don't interfere with your original DHCP server and setup.

A few questions, if you don't mind:
- Will the Roku maintain the DHCP settings even after a power down or reboot?
- Which version of the Roku do you have, and are they all locked down in this way?

I can't believe that they would lock it down so badly. I have my DNS settings set up on the router, and haven't really considered the security implications of this. The problem with my setup is that we watch Netflix and Hulu from 2 Android tablets and 1 Android phone, and these devices need to be mobile, connecting to different WiFi networks (and 3G networks) all the time. They only really need to work with Neflix and Hulu from my home network though.

It's a catch 22.

Saajid said:

A few questions, if you don't mind:
- Will the Roku maintain the DHCP settings even after a power down or reboot?
- Which version of the Roku do you have, and are they all locked down in this way?

Click to expand...

I have a Roku 3 connected via ethernet cable and as far as I know, as long as you don't go into network settings and select "update connection" you should be fine.

I also have an Android tablet, 2 Android phones and an iPad and have simply entered Unotelly's DNS settings in each device under my home wifi network settings only i.e. other networks, be it ethernet or wifi won't be affected.

SL1v3R said:

This is obviously not ideal as the network traffic on all devices on my network is then redirected via Unotelly's servers.

Click to expand...

Traffic for non streaming websites is not routed via Unotelly. The Unotelly DNS servers forward url requests to Google DNS servers. The IP address is returned to your PC and then your PC connects directly to the server. For the supported streaming websites only, traffic is tunnelled via Unotelly.

Saajid said:

Will the Roku maintain the DHCP settings even after a power down or reboot?

Click to expand...

I can confirm that the Roku loses the settings and the process will need to be repeated on start up. Not a problem really as I haven't found a need to reboot.

Was solved long ago for me

I use Kerio Control to manage my home network. It has a more advanced DHCP than I have found in other software.
It enables full DHCP configuration per client, so all media devices are assigned to a group and the group has it own UnoTelly DNS configuration.

Very simple to use, and guaranteed to have the correct DNS configured every time the devices reboot while leaving the rest of the network on local DNS.

Side note... If you are an Xbox user, having Google DNS as your default is not a good thing. Downloads are always from an international server instead of the closest one to us. Got caught by this many times before when I had UnoTelly setup as the DNS on the router. Downloads would top out at 100KB/s (6mbps line). Change the DNS on the console to local ISP DNS, reboot and watch downloads max out the line cause the closest download server to SA is now chosen.

Kerio Control enables everything to work as it should. So worth it.

balky said:

Traffic for non streaming websites is not routed via Unotelly. The Unotelly DNS servers forward url requests to Google DNS servers. The IP address is returned to your PC and then your PC connects directly to the server. For the supported streaming websites only, traffic is tunnelled via Unotelly.

Click to expand...

Well you're still putting your trust in a 3rd party, which in turn then routes your non-streaming DNS requests to a 4th party, which in this case (Google) doesn't have the best track record for maintaining privacy. I wonder if they data-mine your DNS requests, link them to your logged in Googe sessions/cookies, and then pass this info onto the CIA/NSA when requested.

Mike Smit said:

I use Kerio Control to manage my home network. It has a more advanced DHCP than I have found in other software.
It enables full DHCP configuration per client, so all media devices are assigned to a group and the group has it own UnoTelly DNS configuration.
...

Kerio Control enables everything to work as it should. So worth it.

Click to expand...

Thanks for sharing. This sounds like a good solution.

Mike Smit said:

Kerio Control enables everything to work as it should. So worth it.

Click to expand...

Hi Mike, I'm not sure if the $265 price for the software and $89 annual maintenance fee is worth it versus the occasional reconfiguration of the Roku due to reboot or power down. As usual you're on a whole different level

SL1v3R said:

Hi Mike, I'm not sure if the $265 price for the software and $89 annual maintenance fee is worth it versus the occasional reconfiguration of the Roku due to reboot or power down. As usual you're on a whole different level

Click to expand...

I purchased the license originally for my business when I had 9 staff.
Now I am contracting and working from home I am using it here to manage my home network. 5 people with at least 3 devices per person, Bluray players, Roku's, XBox's and smart TVs on top of that. It is fantastic for managing all these devices, prioritising traffic (Roku streams and online gaming top of the list), managing time limits for the kids, etc...
I can have SABnzbd going full steam. My wife can fire up Netflix and downloads automatically take lower priority and Netflix can stream with no issue. Then I can fire up my console to go play some Black Ops 2, and i get the bandwidth required to play lag free when downloads are still running and 1 or 2 streams going. Kerio QoS is the best I have played with and simply works.
When I got the Roku's I discovered that Kerio DHCP could be configured per client which was just another win for Kerio. No fiddling. Configure and leave.
It is seriously fantastic software.

I agree it could be overkill if you are single or just you and an SO. If you have a multiuser multi-device home network like me, then every rand is well spent dude.

That said... If I was single and knew what I know now about Kerio, I would still buy the license