Routers and control of DNS

[nine9s]

I am using a rented combo modem-router from Comcast now. I plan to get a separate modem and router.

I am confused how routers handle DNS servers for their devices.

Here is what I recently tried to do but it did not work. I wanted to keep Comcast default DNS servers on my Roku and DirecTv devices but set Norton ConnectSafe DNS servers on my two computers. I tried to do this manually within the Local Are Network properties pf the two computers but when I used Norton's website to verify I was using its DNS servers, it stated I was not. I then checked Ipconfig /all and it showed the numbers for Norton's DNS servers. I then researched the problem and found that my modem-router, Arris TG862, has a bug with 3rd part DNS servers. Reference for bug: http://forums.opendns.com/comments.php?DiscussionID=14477

Here is where I am confused. I am not sure if the bug is that (1) you cannot change DNS servers within this router (there is no such option in it) or that (2) the bug is that your manually set DNS servers are ignored on devices.

I am confused because maybe routers are supposed to dictate one DNS servers for all devices on them and you cannot have different ones on each computer (I do not know.)

So before I buy a router, I want to make sure that setting different DNS servers, within those devices software, should work or do most routers not allow that?

 

[s44]

All non-crippled routers allow it. You shouldn't buy a home router that doesn't run Tomato or the like anyway, and that supports it for sure, so...

 

[nine9s]

All non-crippled routers allow it. You shouldn't buy a home router that doesn't run Tomato or the like anyway, and that supports it for sure, so...

Do you have to set DNS servers within the router for each device or should most routers allow the devices to set their own DNS within their own O/Ss?

 

[AnonymouseUser]

Do you have to set DNS servers within the router for each device or should most routers allow the devices to set their own DNS within their own O/Ss?

I've never had an issue where setting the DNS servers on the PC/device didn't work as expected. This particular modem/router is unique/rare.

 

[dawks]

Do you have to set DNS servers within the router for each device or should most routers allow the devices to set their own DNS within their own O/Ss?

I've never seen a home router that would allow you to set the DNS server for each device on the network. Normally you'd need an enterprise DHCP server like Microsoft Server 2008 and DHCP reservations.

All most all devices allow you to ignore DHCP settings and and configure your own DNS servers for themselves.

I'd actually recommend avoiding Nortons DNS servers, and go with OpenDNS. They provide security features as good, if not better than Norton including botnet master control server filtering. Just configure all your devices to use their DNS. You can do this on a device by device basis, or just tell your router to hand out OpenDNS to all devices if it allows.

208.67.222.222
208.67.220.220

Edit: Just re-read your whole post.. Wow that really sucks. I'd drop that router as quickly as possible. Thats more than a bug, that would have to have been done intentionally, and its not an appropriate practice. You can try DNSCrypt which is encrypted DNS from OpenDNS. This will ensure DNS requests (port 53) cannot be redirected. They are encrypted and the client will only accept DNS replies from OpenDNS servers.
http://www.opendns.com/technology/dnscrypt/

The internet is slowly trending towards encrypted DNS but bureaucracy and red-tape makes it a drawn out process.