Setting Up Pi-hole in Docker with Proper DNS Configuration

# This guide walks through

1. Installing Pi-hole with Docker Compose
2. Ensuring port 53 is available
3. Disabling the system's DNS resolver if necessary
4. Configuring your router to use Pi-hole
5. Setting up local DNS entries (if you need)

# 📦 Step 1: Install Pi-hole Using Docker Compose

Create a docker-compose.yml file:

version: "3"

services:
  pihole:
    container_name: pihole
    image: pihole/pihole:latest
    restart: unless-stopped
    ports:
      - "53:53/tcp"
      - "53:53/udp"
      - "8080:80"
      - "8443:443"
    environment:
      TZ: "Asia/Dhaka"
      WEBPASSWORD: "changeme"
    volumes:
      - "./etc-pihole/:/etc/pihole/"
      - "./etc-dnsmasq.d/:/etc/dnsmasq.d/"
    dns:
      - 127.0.0.1
      - 1.1.1.1
    cap_add:
      - NET_ADMIN

Then run:

docker compose up -d

# 🚪 Step 2: Make Sure Port 53 Is Available

Port 53 is critical for DNS. Run this to check if it's already in use:

sudo lsof -i :53

If you see something like systemd-resolved or named, you need to free that port.

# 🛑 Step 3: Disable the System DNS Resolver (If Needed)

On most Linux distros, systemd-resolved binds to port 53 by default.

To disable it:

sudo systemctl disable --now systemd-resolved

Also replace the symlink for /etc/resolv.conf:

sudo rm /etc/resolv.conf
echo "nameserver 127.0.0.1" | sudo tee /etc/resolv.conf

(You can also add a fallback like 8.8.8.8 if needed.)

# 🌐 Step 4: Configure Your Router to Use Pi-hole

To apply ad blocking to your whole network:

1. Log into your router admin page
2. Find the DHCP/DNS settings
3. Set Primary DNS to the IP of your Pi-hole server (e.g., 192.168.1.10)
4. Remove or override any secondary DNS that bypasses Pi-hole (like 8.8.8.8)

Now all devices will query Pi-hole for DNS.

# 🧭 Step 5: Configure Local DNS (And Why)

# ✅ Why Configure Local DNS?

Setting up local DNS allows you to:

• Access devices by name (nas.local, printer.lan, etc.)
• Avoid typing IP addresses manually
• Make services on your home server feel more like the cloud

# 🔧 How to Do It

1. Go to Pi-hole Admin Panel → Local DNS → DNS Records
2. Add entries like:

movie.ashraful.dev → 192.168.10.10
nas.lan → 192.168.10.20

3. Test from any device:

ping movie.ashraful.dev

If it resolves, you're all set!

# ✅ Summary

• Pi-hole in Docker is clean and powerful — just make sure port 53 is free.
• Disable systemd-resolved if it blocks port 53.
• Set your router’s DNS to point to Pi-hole to enable network-wide filtering.
• Use local DNS to make your network smarter and easier to use.

Enjoy ad-free browsing across your entire network! 🧠🛡️