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DNS Resolver not working after config restore

Scheduled Pinned Locked Moved DHCP and DNS
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  • D
    doxymoron
    last edited by Mar 3, 2023, 8:38 PM

    My pfsense device recently died. I've restored my config to a new device, but for some reason I cannot get the DNS resolver to work. Local clients cannot resolve any addresses using pfsense as the DNS server, and pfsense itself can't resolve anything using DNS Lookup from the GUI (For example it can't even check for updates). What should I be checking? Other than the hardware, nothing else has changed.

    S 1 Reply Last reply Mar 3, 2023, 9:23 PM Reply Quote 0
    • S
      SteveITS Galactic Empire @doxymoron
      last edited by Mar 3, 2023, 9:23 PM

      @doxymoron Is it running? What do the system and DNS logs show? Are you forwarding (if so disable DNSSEC) or resolving (the default)?

      Pre-2.7.2/23.09: Only install packages for your version, or risk breaking it. Select your branch in System/Update/Update Settings.
      When upgrading, allow 10-15 minutes to restart, or more depending on packages and device speed.
      Upvote πŸ‘ helpful posts!

      D 1 Reply Last reply Mar 3, 2023, 10:58 PM Reply Quote 0
      • D
        doxymoron @SteveITS
        last edited by doxymoron Mar 3, 2023, 10:58 PM Mar 3, 2023, 10:58 PM

        @steveits Service is running. I have disabled DNSSEC (was previously using this). It was in forwarding mode, I tried disabling but that made no change. I see this in the system logs when I start Unbound:

        /system.php: Unbound /var/unbound/root.key file is corrupt, removing and recreating.

        This is latest form the DNS Resolver log, seems like it may be stopping and restarting?:

        Mar 3 17:45:49 unbound 95307 [95307:0] info: start of service (unbound 1.12.0).
        Mar 3 17:45:49 unbound 95307 [95307:0] notice: init module 0: iterator
        Mar 3 17:45:49 unbound 95307 [95307:0] notice: Restart of unbound 1.12.0.
        Mar 3 17:45:49 unbound 95307 [95307:0] info: server stats for thread 3: requestlist max 0 avg 0 exceeded 0 jostled 0
        Mar 3 17:45:49 unbound 95307 [95307:0] info: server stats for thread 3: 0 queries, 0 answers from cache, 0 recursions, 0 prefetch, 0 rejected by ip ratelimiting
        Mar 3 17:45:49 unbound 95307 [95307:0] info: server stats for thread 2: requestlist max 0 avg 0 exceeded 0 jostled 0
        Mar 3 17:45:49 unbound 95307 [95307:0] info: server stats for thread 2: 0 queries, 0 answers from cache, 0 recursions, 0 prefetch, 0 rejected by ip ratelimiting
        Mar 3 17:45:49 unbound 95307 [95307:0] info: server stats for thread 1: requestlist max 0 avg 0 exceeded 0 jostled 0
        Mar 3 17:45:49 unbound 95307 [95307:0] info: server stats for thread 1: 0 queries, 0 answers from cache, 0 recursions, 0 prefetch, 0 rejected by ip ratelimiting
        Mar 3 17:45:49 unbound 95307 [95307:0] info: server stats for thread 0: requestlist max 0 avg 0 exceeded 0 jostled 0
        Mar 3 17:45:49 unbound 95307 [95307:0] info: server stats for thread 0: 0 queries, 0 answers from cache, 0 recursions, 0 prefetch, 0 rejected by ip ratelimiting
        Mar 3 17:45:49 unbound 95307 [95307:0] info: service stopped (unbound 1.12.0).
        Mar 3 17:45:49 unbound 95307 [95307:0] info: start of service (unbound 1.12.0).

        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
        • D
          doxymoron
          last edited by Mar 3, 2023, 11:12 PM

          What I don't get, is even if I disable DNS Resolver completely, pfsense cannot resolve anything. Shouldn't it be using the DNS server I set in General-Setup? I don't get why everything was fine using the exact same config.

          S 1 Reply Last reply Mar 3, 2023, 11:34 PM Reply Quote 0
          • S
            SteveITS Galactic Empire @doxymoron
            last edited by Mar 3, 2023, 11:34 PM

            @doxymoron can you ping or traceroute out from pfSense itself, on the Diagnostic menu?

            Pre-2.7.2/23.09: Only install packages for your version, or risk breaking it. Select your branch in System/Update/Update Settings.
            When upgrading, allow 10-15 minutes to restart, or more depending on packages and device speed.
            Upvote πŸ‘ helpful posts!

            D 1 Reply Last reply Mar 3, 2023, 11:37 PM Reply Quote 0
            • D
              doxymoron @SteveITS
              last edited by Mar 3, 2023, 11:37 PM

              @steveits Yes I can ping 8.8.8.8 from pfsense for example. Traceroute gives me this:

              1 10.6.0.1 10.781 ms 10.292 ms 9.396 ms
              2 24.140.1.55 10.635 ms 8.590 ms 11.504 ms
              3 * * *
              4 * 64.125.22.228 33.254 ms *
              5 * * *
              6 74.125.50.194 21.498 ms 18.355 ms 19.994 ms
              7 * * *
              8 * * *
              9 * * *
              10 * * *
              11 * * *
              12 * * *
              13 * * *
              14 * * *
              15 * * *
              16 * * *
              17 * * *
              18 * * *

              S 1 Reply Last reply Mar 3, 2023, 11:43 PM Reply Quote 0
              • S
                SteveITS Galactic Empire @doxymoron
                last edited by Mar 3, 2023, 11:43 PM

                @doxymoron well not every router will respond to pings but it looks like you connection dies at 74.125.50.194. Which apparently has no PTR record so not sure what that is.

                Ping 8.8.8.8 continuously, do you have packet loss?

                Pre-2.7.2/23.09: Only install packages for your version, or risk breaking it. Select your branch in System/Update/Update Settings.
                When upgrading, allow 10-15 minutes to restart, or more depending on packages and device speed.
                Upvote πŸ‘ helpful posts!

                D 1 Reply Last reply Mar 3, 2023, 11:50 PM Reply Quote 0
                • D
                  doxymoron @SteveITS
                  last edited by Mar 3, 2023, 11:50 PM

                  @steveits No, it's solid.

                  S 1 Reply Last reply Mar 4, 2023, 1:45 AM Reply Quote 0
                  • S
                    SteveITS Galactic Empire @doxymoron
                    last edited by Mar 4, 2023, 1:45 AM

                    @doxymoron Long shot but does it work if you reset to defaults? Can always restore again after.

                    Pre-2.7.2/23.09: Only install packages for your version, or risk breaking it. Select your branch in System/Update/Update Settings.
                    When upgrading, allow 10-15 minutes to restart, or more depending on packages and device speed.
                    Upvote πŸ‘ helpful posts!

                    D 1 Reply Last reply Mar 5, 2023, 6:37 PM Reply Quote 0
                    • D
                      doxymoron @SteveITS
                      last edited by doxymoron Mar 5, 2023, 6:39 PM Mar 5, 2023, 6:37 PM

                      @steveits I just completely installed 2.6 from scratch. I'm unable to resolve anything. Something isn't right...could there be some issue at the ISP level where they are blocking pfsense as a DNS resolver? I don't get what's going on.

                      S 1 Reply Last reply Mar 5, 2023, 6:43 PM Reply Quote 0
                      • S
                        SteveITS Galactic Empire @doxymoron
                        last edited by Mar 5, 2023, 6:43 PM

                        @doxymoron Can you β€œnslookup netgate.com 8.8.8.8” from your PC?

                        Pre-2.7.2/23.09: Only install packages for your version, or risk breaking it. Select your branch in System/Update/Update Settings.
                        When upgrading, allow 10-15 minutes to restart, or more depending on packages and device speed.
                        Upvote πŸ‘ helpful posts!

                        D 1 Reply Last reply Mar 5, 2023, 6:47 PM Reply Quote 0
                        • D
                          doxymoron @SteveITS
                          last edited by Mar 5, 2023, 6:47 PM

                          @steveits Yes that works. But when I try to nslookup using pfsense, gives me DNS request timed out.

                          S 1 Reply Last reply Mar 5, 2023, 6:55 PM Reply Quote 0
                          • S
                            SteveITS Galactic Empire @doxymoron
                            last edited by Mar 5, 2023, 6:55 PM

                            @doxymoron if you enable forwarding in the Resolver settings does it work?

                            I mean, I suppose it’s conceivable the ISP is blocking third party DNS but I would think they’d block Google before the root servers. Awfully uncommon though. Not sure I’ve heard of blocking DNS at the ISP level.

                            Pre-2.7.2/23.09: Only install packages for your version, or risk breaking it. Select your branch in System/Update/Update Settings.
                            When upgrading, allow 10-15 minutes to restart, or more depending on packages and device speed.
                            Upvote πŸ‘ helpful posts!

                            D 1 Reply Last reply Mar 5, 2023, 7:23 PM Reply Quote 0
                            • D
                              doxymoron @SteveITS
                              last edited by Mar 5, 2023, 7:23 PM

                              @steveits So enabling forwarding worked on the fresh install. I have restored my config and made the same settings. It still did not resolve. I found this thread:

                              https://forum.netgate.com/topic/87141/can-t-access-internet-fresh-install/20

                              Which suggests doing this:

                              Go to Interface - WAN - Uncheck Block private networks.

                              I did this and now DNS Resolver is working. Interestingly, I went back and checked that box again, and it still continues to work. I really don't know why or how though...

                              S 1 Reply Last reply Mar 5, 2023, 7:42 PM Reply Quote 0
                              • S
                                SteveITS Galactic Empire @doxymoron
                                last edited by Mar 5, 2023, 7:42 PM

                                @doxymoron Hmm that adds a rule to prevent incoming connections on the interface.

                                Pre-2.7.2/23.09: Only install packages for your version, or risk breaking it. Select your branch in System/Update/Update Settings.
                                When upgrading, allow 10-15 minutes to restart, or more depending on packages and device speed.
                                Upvote πŸ‘ helpful posts!

                                D 1 Reply Last reply Mar 5, 2023, 8:20 PM Reply Quote 0
                                • D
                                  doxymoron @SteveITS
                                  last edited by Mar 5, 2023, 8:20 PM

                                  @steveits I wonder if somehow unchecking that box reset something that was in my config causing it not to work correctly? Not sure...

                                  1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
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