In this article

Welcome to DNSFilter! This guide helps you decide what deployment option is right for you and links to all the support content you'll need to start protecting your home, office, or enterprise network from internet threats.

Prep your network

Though set up is quick and easy, there are a few things that can cause issues if configured to prevent DNS forwarding. Check these common issues to confirm you're set up for a successful deployment! 

• Complete a network check to make sure old DNS settings are clear and VPN settings are optimal for deployment
• Check that your Internet Service Provider (ISP) is not using Carrier-Grade NAT or transparent proxying DNS traffic
• Confirm any existing firewall, VPN, and security application rules or settings are set to allow traffic to the correct IP addresses 
• Check and make sure all IP addresses are accounted for. This includes:
  • All primary external IP addresses
  • Secondary addresses on another ISP
  • Failover WAN links

Pick your deployment(s)

Take a look at our deployment options and decide what steps are best for your needs. You can deploy more than one option depending on your protection goals, and if you're not sure where to start, try setting up a single device's DNS Forwarding and Roaming Client. This is a simple way to see DNSFilter's threat protection and reporting capabilities.

Want a little more detail about your options? Check out DNSFilter Deployment Options for a deep dive into each deployment's strengths, limitations, and best use cases.

These articles are ordered for an easy deployment, so once you know what option(s) to deploy we suggest starting at the top and working your way down for the best experience. 

• Protection Goals

  • Protection on your network
  • No need for offsite protection
  • Public Wi-Fi
    

    e.g. short term rental; small businesses like cafes and restaurants 

  Follow these guides

  1. Create a Filtering Policy
  2. Set a Block Page
  3. Add a Site
  4. Test the connection
  5. Configure the network

• Protection Goals

  • Protection on your network and when traveling or remote
    

    e.g. home office, coffee shops, airports

  • Easily set or change policies for large groups of computers with tags
    

    e.g. teachers/students, corporate departments, public/private computers

  • Granular per device/user reporting

  Follow these guides

  1. Create a Filtering Policy
  2. Set a Block Page
  3. Add a Site
  4. Setup the Roaming Client:
     • macOS
     • Windows
     • Chromebook
     • iOS
     • Android
  5. Setup Zapier integrations (optional; reconfigure at any time)

  Linux Roaming Client

  ✍️ Roaming Clients aren't available for Linux environments. To protect off-site Linux machines, deploy a Relay.

• Protection Goals

  • Apply filtering policies by IP or subnet on your network
  • Protects devices when Roaming Client can't be installed
  • Desire for per-machine reporting

  Follow these guides

  1. Create a Filtering Policy
  2. Set a Block Page
  3. Add a Site
  4. Setup Relay
  5. Setup Zapier integrations (optional; reconfigure at any time)

Explore more from DNSFilter

All the Extras

Get the most out of your DNSFilter account:

• Join our Community to ask questions, request features, or maybe jump in on a discussion with some tips to help out other users
• Schedule reports to stay up to date on traffic, requests, and blocked threats
• Setup data exports to customize analytics, simplify compliance and reporting, and improve operations
• Ready to commit? Enter your billing information before the end of the trial period to ensure seamless threat protection

Troubleshooting

If something isn't quite right, check out our troubleshooting resources for potential resolutions. 

Support Content

Visit our help center to explore all the ways DNSFilter supports your network protection. Here are a few topics to get you started:

• Reporting
• Tools
• Integrations
• Migrating to DNSFilter
• Get to know DNS

Throughout our support content and Community posts you'll find Related to links at the end of each page. These links are a list of all the content across our help center related to that topic. Use them as tool if you get lost, want to see integration-related deployment content, or just want to explore some DNSFilter features.