DNS server errors

[wnetmw1]

Have people been getting this message from their gateway more often?  I have a Westell 327W and this seems to happen more and more.

LAN PC Unable to communicate with DNS Server. (error = 'connection timed out', count = 3)

[RetiredDBA]

I've been getting different errors.

When I start my browser, it gives me an error 404 (page not found) for my home page.  This started about 36 hours ago.

My home page is the portal for verizon yahoo.  (URL  home.verizon.yahoo.com) .  It's possible that yahoo has just deleted the page.  It's more likely that my DNS server doesn't know how to translate my home page URL into an IP address, even though it worked OK on tuesday.

I've rebooted the dsl router/modem with no luck.  The reboot gets me back to internet connectivity, but doesn't find my portal.

[jmw1950]

Verizon's DNS servers are not the world's best by a long shot. Many users elect to use OPEN DNS for DNS service. It is free

for residential users and offers some features not available on Verizon's DNS servers.

. Making the change on your computer to use OpenDNS for DNS service is easy, and insturctions are provided on the open dns web site, www.opendns.com

[smith6612]

Those errors are pretty self explanatory. It means for some reason the DNS Proxy on the modem is unable to contact the DNS Server it is set up to use. By any chance has your connection been dropping? If not, it's most likely Verizon's DNS servers being on the fritz again.

I often suggest using 3rd party DNS over ISP DNS. Often times they are more reliable and in many cases they are quicker. I suggest the use of the following well-known server:

Level3:

4.2.2.1

4.2.2.2

4.2.2.3

4.2.2.4

Google:

8.8.4.4

8.8.8.8

OpenDNS

208.67.222.222

208.67.220.220