Uploaded April 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
An in-depth discussion of DNS failover, what it is, and why you need this configured in your home lab environment along with production. We discuss and look at three different designs for DNS failover and which design you might use for which use cases and what components and solutions are involved. This will help to take your home lab name resolution resiliency to the next level! We will look at things like Pi-Hole, Unbound, Windows Server DNS, Nebula Sync and more.
Written blog on this topic: virtualizationhowto.com/2025/03/dns-failover-for-the-home-lab-and-why-you-need-it
Proxmox server build 2025!!!!!! (amazon affiliate links I get a small commission):
Minisforum BD795M – geni.us/bd795m
RackChoice 2U Micro ATX Compact – geni.us/rackchoice2u
Cooler Master MWE Gold 850 V2 – geni.us/coolermaster850
Crucial 128 GB 5600MT/sec RAM – geni.us/crucial128gbramkit
Noctua NH-L9i-17xx, Premium Low-Profile CPU Cooler – amzn.to/4hAKIwG
Crucial 96GB kit of DDR5 SODIMM memory kit – geni.us/noctuanhl9i17xx
Intel X520-DA2 10 GbE network adapter – geni.us/intelx520
Kingston 240 GB drive for boot – geni.us/kingston240
Samsung EVO 990 Pro 2TB – geni.us/samsung990pro2tb
MX-4 Thermal paste – geni.us/mx4thermalpaste
Case fans: geni.us/arcticp8
Check out the VHT forums to get your questions answered: virtualizationhowto.com/community
★ Subscribe to the channel: youtube.com/channel/UCrxcWtpd1IGHG9RbD_9380A?sub_confirmation=1
★ My blog: virtualizationhowto.com
★ Twitter: twitter.com/vspinmaster
★ LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/brandon-lee-vht
★ Github: github.com/brandonleegit
★ Facebook: facebook.com/people/VirtualizationHowto/100092747277326
★ Discord: discord.gg/Zb46NV6mB3
★ Pinterest: pinterest.com/brandonleevht
Introduction to DNS and failover - 0:00
What is DNS failover? 0:49
Load balance vs failover - 1:35
Running local authoritative domains in home lab - 1:50
Option 1 for DNS failover - 2:43
Using Windows Domain Controllers with DNS - 3:30
Downstream Unbound server - 3:41
Automatic DNS registration with secure updates - 4:10
Different virtual hosts and storage - 4:32
Client LAN network 2 Pi-Hole servers with Nebula-sync - 4:49
Hybrid Option 1 with 2 Pi-Hole servers and Keepalived - 5:27
Single IP address to hand out to clients for failover - 6:06
Local DNS server and one public DNS server - 6:45
Showing this configuration with one local and public and behavior with local domain - 7:38
Option 3 is just using public DNS resolvers - 8:40
Designing using public resolvers and spreading your config between providers - 9:00
Configuring DHCP scope options for both DNS resolvers - 9:40
Wrapping up thoughts on DNS failover - 10:20
An in-depth discussion of DNS failover, what it is, and why you need this configured in your home lab environment along with production. We discuss and look at three different designs for DNS failover and which design you might use for which use cases and what components and solutions are involved. This will help to take your home lab name resolution resiliency to the next level! We will look at things like Pi-Hole, Unbound, Windows Server DNS, Nebula Sync and more.
Written blog on this topic: virtualizationhowto.com/2025/03/dns-failover-for-the-home-lab-and-why-you-need-it
Proxmox server build 2025!!!!!! (amazon affiliate links I get a small commission):
Minisforum BD795M – geni.us/bd795m
RackChoice 2U Micro ATX Compact – geni.us/rackchoice2u
Cooler Master MWE Gold 850 V2 – geni.us/coolermaster850
Crucial 128 GB 5600MT/sec RAM – geni.us/crucial128gbramkit
Noctua NH-L9i-17xx, Premium Low-Profile CPU Cooler – amzn.to/4hAKIwG
Crucial 96GB kit of DDR5 SODIMM memory kit – geni.us/noctuanhl9i17xx
Intel X520-DA2 10 GbE network adapter – geni.us/intelx520
Kingston 240 GB drive for boot – geni.us/kingston240
Samsung EVO 990 Pro 2TB – geni.us/samsung990pro2tb
MX-4 Thermal paste – geni.us/mx4thermalpaste
Case fans: geni.us/arcticp8
Check out the VHT forums to get your questions answered: virtualizationhowto.com/community
★ Subscribe to the channel: youtube.com/channel/UCrxcWtpd1IGHG9RbD_9380A?sub_confirmation=1
★ My blog: virtualizationhowto.com
★ Twitter: twitter.com/vspinmaster
★ LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/brandon-lee-vht
★ Github: github.com/brandonleegit
★ Facebook: facebook.com/people/VirtualizationHowto/100092747277326
★ Discord: discord.gg/Zb46NV6mB3
★ Pinterest: pinterest.com/brandonleevht
Introduction to DNS and failover - 0:00
What is DNS failover? 0:49
Load balance vs failover - 1:35
Running local authoritative domains in home lab - 1:50
Option 1 for DNS failover - 2:43
Using Windows Domain Controllers with DNS - 3:30
Downstream Unbound server - 3:41
Automatic DNS registration with secure updates - 4:10
Different virtual hosts and storage - 4:32
Client LAN network 2 Pi-Hole servers with Nebula-sync - 4:49
Hybrid Option 1 with 2 Pi-Hole servers and Keepalived - 5:27
Single IP address to hand out to clients for failover - 6:06
Local DNS server and one public DNS server - 6:45
Showing this configuration with one local and public and behavior with local domain - 7:38
Option 3 is just using public DNS resolvers - 8:40
Designing using public resolvers and spreading your config between providers - 9:00
Configuring DHCP scope options for both DNS resolvers - 9:40
Wrapping up thoughts on DNS failover - 10:20
