Raspberry Pi mini-computers have always been in high demand, and I was thrilled when I finally managed to get my hands on one. After careful consideration, I decided to embark on a project to create a personal DNS server using the Raspberry Pi, specifically the Raspberry Pi 4 – 4GB RAM “Extreme Kit” from CanaKit.com. This blog post will share my experience with assembling the Raspberry Pi, installing the operating system, setting up Pi-Hole, and overcoming a few challenges along the way.
Assembly:
Putting together the Raspberry Pi was a breeze thanks to the CanaKit.com kit. The case was easy to assemble with its snap-together design, and the passive heat sinks and fan were simple to install. The only hiccup I encountered was the mismatch between the Mini HDMI input on my portable monitor and the Micro HDMI outputs on the Raspberry Pi. However, a quick purchase of a $4 cable from Amazon resolved this issue.
OS and Pi-Hole Installation:
After connecting everything and powering up the Raspberry Pi, I used the preloaded Raspberry Pi OS loader, “NOOBS,” to install the 32-bit version of Raspbian. Following that, I opened the terminal and ran the command to install Pi-Hole: “curl -sSL https://install.pi-hole.net | bash.” The installation went smoothly, and I made sure to update the system and assign a static IP address to ensure easy access to the DNS server.
Hiccups and Challenges:
As with any tech project, I encountered a few hiccups along the way. Initially, I had trouble accessing the web interface due to a forgotten static IP setting. Additionally, entering the complex password manually was a bit challenging without the ability to copy and paste. However, these obstacles were quickly overcome.
A bigger challenge arose when I discovered that my VPN provider, Nord VPN, was running a separate DNS server, interfering with Pi-Hole’s ad-blocking capabilities. While I found a potential solution that involved using a third-party program to connect to Nord VPN and run my DNS server through Pi-Hole, the complexity and time constraints prevented me from pursuing it at the moment.
Evaluation and Future Plans:
After setting up Pi-Hole, it became evident that while it successfully blocked many ads, some platforms, like YouTube, had become adept at evading these measures. Despite my efforts to find solutions and manually block certain locations, I couldn’t achieve the desired results. Considering my busy schedule, which includes work, marriage, ongoing studies, and other projects, it’s unlikely that I’ll be able to invest more time into this particular endeavor in the near future.
Conclusion:
My Raspberry Pi journey, centered around creating a Pi-Hole DNS server, was an enlightening experience. Although I faced a few challenges and couldn’t fully achieve the desired ad-blocking results, I appreciated the process and the knowledge gained. The Raspberry Pi may find a new purpose in the future, such as being repurposed as a retro gaming console. While I might not return to the Pi-Hole project soon due to time constraints, I’ll continue exploring and enjoying the vast possibilities offered by the Raspberry Pi.