I recently tried to enable system-wide DNS over https on Fedora. To do so I had to to some research and found out how comfusing it is for the average user (and even experienced users) to change the settings. In fact there are multiple backends messing with system DNS at the same time.

Most major Linux distributions use systemd-resolved for DNS but there is no utility for changing its configuration.

The average user would still try to change DNS settings by editing /etc/relov.conf (which is overwritten and will not survive reboots) or changing settings in Network Manager.

Based on documentation of systemd-resolved, the standard way of adding custom DNS servers is putting so-called ‘drop-in’ files in /etc/systemd/resolved.conf.d directory, especially when you want to use DNS-over-TLS or DNS-over-https.

Modern browsers use their buit-in DNS settings which adds to the confusion.

I think this is one area that Linux needs more work and more standardization.

How do you think it should be fixed?

  • Venia SilenteEnglish
    3•9 months ago

    Most major Linux distributions use systemd-resolved for DNS but there is no utility for changing its configuration.

    Because it’s systemd. You take it or you take it. Brought to you by the same people who brought PulseAudio and GNOME 3.

    The average user would still try to change DNS settings by editing /etc/relov.conf (which is overwritten and will not survive reboots)

    True, but at least by this point it is documented everywhere (at least on Arch and Debian) and if you want to play around with resolv.conf their go-to interface is to install resolvconf and edit only the base or head files.

    How do you think it should be fixed?

    IMO people should just install and learn to use dnsmasq / bind9. They’re there precisely to cover most cases (including forwarding local DNS queries to DoH, or having your own intranet, etc).