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Replace or disable OS X dns cache?

Freshabout 19 hours ago
Mar 15, 20261338 views
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Problem

I'm having trouble with OS X's dns cacher and I'm wondering if it's possible to simply disable it or replace it with a better / more configurable program? I don't suppose it's as easy as deleting an executable somewhere, is it -- and if so, do you know which one?

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1 Fix

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Disable OS X DNS Cache

Medium Risk

OS X uses a DNS caching service called mDNSResponder to improve network performance by caching DNS queries. However, this can sometimes lead to issues with outdated or incorrect DNS entries, causing connectivity problems. Disabling or replacing this service can help in troubleshooting and resolving these issues.

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  1. 1

    Stop the mDNSResponder Service

    To temporarily disable the DNS cache, you can stop the mDNSResponder service. This will clear the current DNS cache and prevent it from caching new queries until you restart the service.

    bash
    sudo launchctl unload /System/Library/LaunchDaemons/com.apple.mDNSResponder.plist
  2. 2

    Flush the DNS Cache

    After stopping the mDNSResponder service, it's a good practice to flush the DNS cache to ensure that any stale entries are removed.

    bash
    sudo dscacheutil -flushcache; sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder
  3. 3

    Install a Third-Party DNS Caching Service

    If you want a more configurable DNS caching solution, consider installing a third-party DNS caching service like dnsmasq. This allows for more control over DNS queries and caching behavior.

    bash
    brew install dnsmasq
  4. 4

    Configure dnsmasq

    After installing dnsmasq, configure it by editing the /usr/local/etc/dnsmasq.conf file to set your preferred DNS servers and caching options.

    bash
    echo 'server=8.8.8.8' >> /usr/local/etc/dnsmasq.conf
  5. 5

    Start dnsmasq Service

    Finally, start the dnsmasq service to begin using it as your DNS resolver.

    bash
    sudo brew services start dnsmasq

Validation

To confirm that the DNS cache has been disabled, try accessing a website that you know has changed its IP address recently. If you can access it without issues, the cache is effectively disabled. For dnsmasq, check its logs or use 'dig' command to verify it is responding to DNS queries.

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