Streamyx DNS sucks - switch to OpenDNS
If you're blessed with a Streamyx (Screamyx) connection, you may have hit some problems connecting to certain websites. I've been facing problems trying to connect to some of Google's services, e.g. Gmail and Google Reader. Turns out that this is in relation to TM Net's DNS servers.
Switch to OpenDNS -- now!
We just did that for our home router, and it worked like a gem. Moreover, OpenDNS offers some great features at no cost -- it protects you from phishing and provides typo correction (e.g. when you hit google.cm instead of google.com)
All you have to do is switch your DNS server IP addresses to the following OpenDNS IP addresses:
208.67.222.222
208.67.220.220
Before switching to OpenDNS, and using TM Net - unable to resolve to www.google.com:
Immediately after switching to OpenDNS, we were able to resolve to the latest IP address for www.google.com:
The OpenDNS team has put together comprehensive information on their website with regards to their service, and they also include extensive guides on configuring various routers -- kudos!
Useful links:
- OpenDNS: 2 minute start guide
- OpenDNS: What is it?
- OpenDNS: FAQ
- OpenDNS: Stats (number of DNS requests per day)
- OpenDNS: System Status (or pull their RSS feed)
Over 350 million DNS requests per day (see Stats):
A remarkable System Status report:
Related links:
posted by Praveen at
1:09 AM
17 Comments:
Only 1 little problem.. OpenDNS is very unstable. Sometimes, you actually surf slower than Streamyx when using OpenDNS
Seems to be OK thus far, although I would not discount possible stability problems with OpenDNS. They have 4 major caches in the US, and are growing the business, with Hong Kong and London caches coming soon. Do note that most of the Malaysian traffic for external (USA) sites is routed to the US west coast.
However, it is my understanding that a slower surfing experience has got little to do with resolving IP addresses via a DNS server, as the difference in RTT may not be apparent to a surfer. While it serves as a contributing factor, there are always other issues, primarily those revolving around the ISP, e.g. network setup, international peering, traffic shaping, etc.
Thanks for the detailed writeup about your experiences. Let me know how it's going. Glad to hear you're enjoying it thus far!
And you are right about DNS RTT not being the only factor to resolving things well. That's where we shine, in our service, not just our network.
Name Resolution (DNS queries) can be problematic here in Malaysia. If your dsl modem/router supports Dynamic DNS I'd try this as well. One can create a free account here dynalias.net (the instructions are on the page and easy to follow). Unfortunately we still have to contend with StreamHex's known shaping/throttling of connections, but ever little bit helps, right ;)
@anonymous: Dynamic DNS is not a solution for this problem. Dynamic DNS solves the problem of resolving your own dynamic IP addresses via a dedicated hostname, e.g. somebody.dyndns.org
IMO opendns is much slower than the average (overated maybe) here a good list of local DNS.
202.188.0.132
202.188.0.147
202.188.0.161
202.188.0.182
202.188.1.4
202.188.1.5
202.188.1.23
202.188.1.25
ping it first.
@chaoskaizer: thanks for the tip! So far OpenDNS has worked well for my setup at home. No noticeable negative effects for the casual surfers.
I use severs from
http://www.DNSServerList.org
Way faster than OpenDNS!
When setting up a router we forget to set the DNS servers and let the ISP set them which can slow down the connection.
A lot of times a slow connection is realy the DNS servers, your are using - are overloaded. Most isp's run a standard BIND server that is very veunerable to floods that can be sent by accident with older Linksys routers.
DNSServerList.org has daily updated servers that are open to the public.
Try changing your DNS servers on your router to these.
Also note that if you have a Linksys (Or other router with three DNS slots) populate all three.
My Helpfull sites.
http://www.DNSServerList.org
http://www.Open-DNS.org
http://www.IPGeoLocator.com
Enjoy
QW
hi praveen, It been awhile.
Actually opendns is much better in term of security and speed. I did a benchmark test with my friends in beijing (gmt+8). Less packet drop than Streamyx. no bottleneck
In terms of security opendns has a control panel for blocking specific IP, port, protocl URI. Its quite handy for me. I got many IRC trojan (worm.virut) lately. So blocking thing covering a WIDE--AREA is nice.
@chaoskaizer: thanks for the update! I've never switched away from OpenDNS, but am very happy with the performance thus far.
thx for the info. I am using Aztech 600ew modem. The modem alraedy set the DNS for me. Can anyone teach me how to change the DNS?
open dns sucks - i hate it. it blocks harmless websites.
help plz..im using celcom bb..but at the opendns site..when i tried to add network..it said that network already exist..what should i do now?
@azri: you don't have to add the network to OpenDNS via their website. Your error indicates that it's a public network shared by others.
Instead, just update your DNS IP Address in Windows networking.
Use 208.67.222.222 and 208.67.220.220
Go to this page to start with a step-by-step guide: https://www.opendns.com/start/computer/
Send me an email (emailme at praveenrajan dot com) if you need further help.
Guys,
I hope this will help.
Source
“Effective Method to Communicate with TMNET – Streamyx” – information provided by http://www.webdesignempire.com/ (Registration is simple and needed as we would like to keep track who access to the information so that we may show the relevant government agencies the solid prove of majority is not satisfied with TMNET’s services and currently having repeating issues with their services)
Description
We had been communicating the issues face by our friends and customers with TMNET up to various management levels, from their VAQs (call center) to TM’s Broadband Management Center (BMC) and even with their own engineers.
All issues lie within the management control and not the tech or engineer can do. We call it as an “economic” concerns. Hence, we put up a more effective communication method with TMNET and the relevant government agencies to sort of like pressing TMNET via the authorities harder to take appropriate action to at least improve the service and fulfill the “Best Effort Policy”. TMNET project a picture that they’re using the “Best Effort Policy” as a shield whenever we drill into the root cause of the issues.
We hope with proper communication channel with the relevant government agencies (if you highlight the issues, no matter how many N times to Streamyx, the government agencies will not have any idea about it most of the time) and let the authority to carry out their responsibilities to work things out with TMNET.
Please pass and spread the information.
Thanks a lot guys.
Actually you might be wrong...
I have been using OpenDNS for sometime now but i didn't notice this:
I did the same thing as you did above & got amazing result when i set my dns servers to:
1.Obtain a dns server, my ping to www.google.com: 59ms
2.Streamyx private dns server, my ping to www.google.com: 58ms!
3.Open DNS server, my ping to www.google.com: 338ms
The reason why open dns is getting high ms it's becoz of the distance between us(Malaysia) & OpenDNS(IN US)
So i suggest you set your DNS server to 3 servers:
PRIMARY: 202.188.1.5 (Streamyx, ping: 101ms)
SECONDARY: 208.67.220.220(OpenDNS, ping: 400ms)
EXTRA: 208.67.222.222 (OpenDNS, ping: 406ms)
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