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How to change the DNS settings on a SMC SMC7904WBRA-N router

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Setup Router Staff
(Last Updated: ) | Reading Time: 4 minutes

This page shows how to change the DNS settings on the SMC SMC7904WBRA-N router.

Other SMC SMC7904WBRA-N Guides

This is the dns guide for the SMC SMC7904WBRA-N. We also have the following guides for the same router:

What is the DNS setting on a Router

When you connect a router to the Internet it gets a few settings from your ISP automatically. One of the settings that the ISP sets in your router is the DNS setting. DNS stands for Domain Name System and it is used to convert Internet names into actual IP addresses. For instance, when you go to "google.com", your are really connecting to an IP address that is mapped through DNS to a number such as:

  • 173.194.33.73

This mapping happens automatically every time you visit any page on the Internet.

Why Change Your Router's DNS Setting

Some ISPs choose to abuse the DNS system and map unknown names to servers that they control. This can be done in a way that you don't know it is happening since your router is getting its DNS settings from your ISP. For instance, if you have one of these ISPs who is hijacking your DNS, and you try to surf the web to "some-random-site.com" and "some-random-site.com" does not exist, you might get a page back from your ISP with local advertisements on it.

By changing your DNS setting in your router you will effectively change the DNS setting for every computer on your network. This is because when a device is connected to your network your router automatically hands out its own DNS settings to that device. This way you can protect your entire network from ISP hijacking with just one setting.

What Should I Change My DNS To

There are 2 really great DNS servers on the Internet that you can choose from right now: Google Public DNS and OpenDNS. If you are not sure which one to pick then just use Google Public DNS.

When you change the DNS settings in your router, you usually have to enter a Primary and a Secondary setting. The secondary is only used if the primary can not be located. Here are common settings:

If you want to use Google Public DNS, use the following settings:

  • Primary: 8.8.8.8
  • Secondary: 8.8.4.4

If you want to use OpenDNS, use the following settings:

  • 208.67.222.222
  • 208.67.220.220

Login To The SMC SMC7904WBRA-N

To get started configuring the SMC SMC7904WBRA-N DNS page you need to login to your router. If you are already logged in you can skip this step.

To login to the SMC SMC7904WBRA-N, follow our SMC SMC7904WBRA-N Login Guide.

Change the DNS settings on a SMC SMC7904WBRA-N

If you followed our login guide above then you should see this screen.

router status mac address internet IP
This is the status page from your SMC SMC7904WBRA-N router.

You begin on the Home page of the SMC SMC7904WBRA-N router. To change the DNS server settings, click the choice of Advanced Setup. Then in the left side-bar, click the choice labeled WAN, and finally DNS.

Configure the DNS section of your SMC SMC7904WBRA-N

router dns setting
This is the dns page from your SMC SMC7904WBRA-N router.

On this new page, enter the primary address of the DNS server you have chosen in the four boxes labeled Domain Name Server (DNS) Address. This address is always going to be checked first.

Enter the secondary DNS Server address in the four boxes titled Secondary DNS Address (optional). Remember that this address is only used if the primary address is inaccessible.

That's all there is to it, click SAVE SETTINGS and you're done!

Possible Problems when Changing your DNS settings

Most devices on your network will not begin using the new DNS settings until they have been rebooted. After rebooting a device you can go to it's network settings and verify that it is using the DNS servers that you specified.

Other SMC SMC7904WBRA-N Info

Don't forget about our other SMC SMC7904WBRA-N info that you might be interested in.

This is the dns guide for the SMC SMC7904WBRA-N. We also have the following guides for the same router: