Virgin's DNS Servers [ Edited ]

[Grumpu_Old_Sod]

After approc 2 x years of smooth running, my Router can no longer obtain Virgin's DNS Servers automatically.  This means I cannot get an Internet connection.

If I configure the Router to use OpenDNS servers  (208.67.222.222 & 208.67.220.220) everything works fine.

Are there problems with the DNS Servers ?, as this has only just started happening in the last few weeks ..... have they changed ? .... are there alternative IPs ?

Before finding the above workaround myself, I dod speak to Customer Service on 151, who told me I had a faulty Router, I purchased a new one, which was a total waste of money, as it wasn't the problem.

I would prefer to connect to Virgin's DNS Servers, but I cant !!

[jaffacake]

The Virgin DNS servers have a serious reputation for being slow and unreliable. Also, as discussed in another thread, they also intend to hijack requests for non-existent domains.

I recommend you stick with OpenDNS - performance is superb and you get lots of extra functions like statistics and filtering to block dodgy sites automatically.

Back to your problem though, what exactly are the symptoms you are getting? You say that your router can no longer obtain the Virgin DNS servers automatically. What if you hard code the Virgin DNS servers in the same place where you entered the OpenDNS hosts? What if you plug a PC directly into your cable modem, is it configured correctly with the required DNS servers?

[Joe]

I've never had an issue with Virgin's DNS at all, but I have read stories of people experiencing some pain - As it is such a critical service that I pay for as part of my ISP's offering, I would be miffed if I had to use OpenDNS in any way, shape or form.

I would strongly suggest raising this through the official support channels for investigation as it could potentially be a wider reaching problem. I've always found VM support do take these things seriously and escalate to the right people for further analysis.

Me

[jaffacake]

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Joe wrote:

I would strongly suggest raising this through the official support channels for investigation as it could potentially be a wider reaching problem. I've always found VM support do take these things seriously and escalate to the right people for further analysis.

Me

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I think he tried this already and got told, wrongly, that he had a faulty router.

[Joe]

Oh well, back on the phone then

(I meant to edit my last post to reflect the fact he had already called, but got sleepy and grabbed my cuppa!)

[boredband]

I think the original poster will find that there are lots of VM customers who use alternative DNS servers. I also use OpenDNS after I had serious ongoing problems some time ago with VM's own DNS's. Currently I use the two OpenDNS IP's as primary and secondary and the primary VM DNS as my tertiary DNS.

[Grumpu_Old_Sod]

Thanks for the replies guys.

If I connect the modem directly to the PC, everything works fine, but with the Router connected, configured to obtain DNS Automatically from ISP, it doesn't work.

The Router works fine though, as I said, with the  OpenDNS Servers.

I tried two Linksys Routers and the Virgin supplied Netgear WGR614v9 <cough, spit>, none of them worked when configured to obtain DNS Automatically from ISP, but all worked on OpenDNS.

The part I dont understand is .... nothing has changed at my end.  I have not changed the Router settings in years, so it must be something Virgin have done.  I did notice that they introduced their redirect to a search provider, when a bad url is entered and this DOES coincide with me having the problem.  I dont expect Virgin to acknowledge this, but it does seem coincidental ..... either that or their DNS Servers have issues.

[jaffacake]

The DNS settings are provided by DHCP. If it works with the PC connected, then there is nothing wrong with the DHCP.

There must be something wrong somewhere and it's hard not to conclude that it's a router issue.

[Grumpu_Old_Sod]

It is definitely not a Router issue .... as I said I have tried 3 x different Routers, all with latest firmware and all have the same problem.

The problem is ..... none of the Routers can obtain the  Virgin DNS Servers Automatically, as they did in the past. Plus all 3 x Routers work fine on OpenDNS.

VM have definitel changed something at their end, because the Router configuration settings have not changed at my end.

I am up and running fine now with OpenDNS, which I will stick with, unless someone here from VM can acknowldge the issue and report when it will be resolved.

[jaffacake]

The IP configuration in the router is updated using it's own DHCP client. Plugging a PC directly into the cable modem confirms that the correct information is coming from the Virgin DHCP server, so why isn't the router picking this up?

The DHCP client on your PC works, the one in your router doesn't.

Additionally, if there were a general issue, I think more people would have a problem. My router picks up the Virgin DNS servers without an issue, for example.

I asked you earlier what happens if you configure your router with the Virgin DNS servers manually. Does it work?