Here are some basic instructions on configuring your computer to access the OpenNIC Top-Level Domains (TLDs).
If you've configured a different operating system to use OpenNIC, please add it to this page.
General Information
Note 1: In any place in the information below where you would normally see an IP number, those numbers have been replaced with a link to the page of Public Name Servers. Please see this list to choose the appropriate server for your use.
Note 2: Since most operating systems will use the DNS servers in the order in which it lists them, it is important that you put the OpenNIC servers first if you will be including non-OpenNIC servers in your list as well. This will guarantee that lookup attempts will go to the OpenNIC system before the ICANN (or other) system, and will thus resolve OpenNIC names correctly.
Mac OSX
- Apple menu -> System Preferences... -> Network
- Show dropdown: Select either "Built-in Ethernet" or "AirPort" depending on type of network connection
- Click TCP/IP button
- Enter one or more Tier 2 IP addresses in "DNS Servers" textarea (separate each with Enter)
- Select "Apply Now"
Debian/Ubuntu and derivatives (graphical)
- Left-click Network Manager icon from the System Tray
- Click "Edit Connections" from the menu
- Select the appropriate tab ("Wired/Wireless") depending on your connection
- Double-click your connection
- Select the IPv4 or IPv6 tab depending on your connection (if you're not sure, you're probably using IPv4)
- Change the "Method" to "Automatic (DHCP) addresses only"
- In the DNS servers box, enter two servers from here separated by a comma.
- Click "Save"
- Disconnect and reconnect to your network; restart your browser.
Windows 8
- Open the "PC Settings" app from the Start page
- Select "Control Panel" at the bottom of the left column
- Using the "Category" view, click "Network and Internet"
- Click "Network and Sharing Center" in the main window
- In the left column, click "Change adapter Settings"
- Locate the connection you are using (if you're unsure, change the window's view to Details and use the connection that lists Internet access in the Connectivity column)
- Double click this connection
- Click "Properties" at the bottom of the window
- Double-click on (not untick/tick) "Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4)" or "Internet Protocol Version 6 (TCP/IPv6)" depending on your connection (if you're not sure, you're probably using IPv4)
- Select the radio button "Use the following DNS server addresses"
- Select two IP address from this page
- Enter one IP address into each the Preferred and the Alternate DNS server boxes
- Click OK. You may need to reboot to make these changes take effect.
Windows XP
- Click Start / Control Panel / Network Connections / Wireless Network Connection.
- Click "Properties" on the General tab.
- Scroll the list of connection services/protocols to "Internet Protocol (TCP/IP)"
- DO NOT check or uncheck any of the boxes, just select "Internet Protocol (TCP/IP)" and click "Properties"
- If it is not already selected, select the radio box for "Use the following DNS server addresses:"
- Select two IP address from this page
- Enter one IP address into each the Preferred and the Alternate DNS server boxes
- Click OK. You may need to reboot to make these changes take effect.
Unix and Unix-like Operating Systems
This includes most of the straight Unixes (like SunOS and Solaris) as well as their Free Software/Open Source cousins (such as Linux, GNU/Linux, and the *BSDs).- Log on as, or su to, the root account
- Open your resolver config file (usually "/etc/resolv.conf") in your preferred editor
- Remove, or comment out with a "#" at the beginning of the line, all lines beginning with "nameserver"
- Add the following lines (you may have from 1 to 3 name servers specified in this file):
nameserver [Tier 2 server IP address]
nameserver [Tier 2 server IP address]
nameserver [Tier 2 server IP address]
nameserver [Tier 2 server IP address]
nameserver [Tier 2 server IP address]
- Save and exit; it should work at this point
Windows 98/NT/2K
- Click on Start menu->Settings->Control Panel
- Click on Network
- Select TCP/IP and click Properties
- Click on the DNS Configuration tab
- Add the IP address of a Tier 2 server to the DNS server search order
- DO NOT check/enable any feature to register your name to the name server!
-- There is a checkbox at the bottom of the advanced settings of the TPC/IP protocols's properties (w2k).
- Press OK twice, and when asked to reboot,
- reboot.
Plan 9 from Bell Labs
- Open your ndb database file (usually "/lib/ndb/local") in your preferred editor
- Remove (or comment out with a "#" at the beginning of the line) all lines beginning with "dns="
- Add the following entries to the appropriate record (you may have any number of servers specified):
- Select a number of IP addresses (e.g. three) from this page
- Add new lines to the file as shown below.
BeOS
- Select on BeOS menu->Preferences->Network
- Change the "Primary DNS:" entry to the IP address of a Tier 2 server
- Change the "Secondary DNS:" entry to the IP address of a Tier 2 server
- Click on the Save button
- You must restart Networking to activate the change.
MacOS (with OpenTransport)
- Select on Apple menu->Control Panels->TCP/IP
- add the IP address of a Tier 2 server to the Name Server addr. column
- Close the Control Panel, and accept Saving the changes.
CategorySupport
1 Click Start / Control Panel / Network Connections / Wireless Network Connection.
2 Click "Properties" on the General tab.
3 Scroll the list of connection services/protocols to "Internet Protocol (TCP/ID)."
4 DO NOT check or uncheck any of the boxes, just SELECT that item and click "Properties".
5 If it is not already selected, Select the radio box for "Use the following DNS server addresses:"
6 Enter the IP address of the PREFERRED and/or the Alternate DNS Server from this <a href="http://www.opennic.glue/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=75:public-dns&catid=51:migrate-to-opennic&Itemid=82" title="OpenNIC DNS IP List">DNS LIST</a>. (Open this in a new tab or window)
Alternatively, you may click the "Advanced" button and enter the one or more DNS IP addresses from the DNS List. This allows you to re-arrange the order of search (preferred is top position, alternates are lower). NOTE: Using more than two DNS IP addresses here <b>will</b> work, but your page may not appear immediately due to longer search paths.
7 Click OK and you're set. You may need to reboot to make these changes take effect, but most configurations will recognise them immediately.