sudo apt-get install pdnsd

If prompted, choose "Manual".

sudo gedit /etc/pdnsd.conf

Copy and paste this into the editor.

// Read the pdnsd.conf(5) manpage for an explanation of the options.

/* Note: this file is overriden by automatic config files when
   /etc/default/pdnsd AUTO_MODE is set and that
   /usr/share/pdnsd/pdnsd-$AUTO_MODE.conf exists
 */

global {
	perm_cache=8192;
	cache_dir="/var/cache/pdnsd";
	run_as="pdnsd";
	server_ip = 127.0.0.1;  // Use eth0 here if you want to allow other
				// machines on your network to query pdnsd.
	status_ctl = on;
  	paranoid=on;
//	query_method=tcp_udp;	// pdnsd must be compiled with tcp
				// query support for this to work.
	min_ttl=96h;       // Retain cached entries at least 15 minutes.
	max_ttl=2w;	   // One week.
	timeout=10;        // Global timeout option (10 seconds).
	proc_limit=60;
	procq_limit=60;
	par_queries=4;
        // Don't enable if you don't recurse yourself, can lead to problems
        // delegation_only="com","net";
}


server {
	label="OpenDNS Plus";
	ip=	208.67.222.222
	,	208.67.220.220
	,	12.213.224.61
	,	192.228.79.201
	,	192.33.4.12
	,	128.8.10.90
	,	192.203.230.10
	,	192.5.5.241
	,	192.112.36.4
	,	128.63.2.53;
	timeout = 5;
	uptest = query;
	interval = 30m;      // Test every half hour.
	ping_timeout = 300;  // 30 seconds.
	purge_cache = off;
	exclude = .localdomain;
	policy = included;
	preset = off;
}

source {
	owner=localhost;
//	serve_aliases=on;
	file="/etc/hosts";
}

rr {
	name=localhost;
	reverse=on;
	a=127.0.0.1;
	owner=localhost;
	soa=localhost,root.localhost,42,86400,900,86400,86400;
}

Now edit /etc/default/pdnsd

sudo gedit /etc/default/pdnsd

Replace

AUTO_MODE=recurse

with

#AUTO_MODE=recurse

This disables AUTO_MODE and gets pdnsd to use our /etc/pdnsd.conf file.

Now edit the dhclient.conf file.

sudo gedit /etc/dhcp3/dhclient.conf

Replace

#prepend domain-name-servers 127.0.0.1;

With

prepend domain-name-servers 127.0.0.1;

(delete the # from the start of the line). Save and exit.

sudo /etc/init.d/pdnsd restart

Test out the DNS cache like so

dig google.com

Check that the SERVER line shows 127.0.0.1#53(127.0.0.1). This means you’re pointed at your local cache.

Now, if you run that command again:

dig google.com

You should see something like Query time: 0 msec.

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