Setting Up Pi-hole in Docker with Proper DNS Configuration
#pihole#dns#ubuntu#linux
Mohamad Ashraful Islam

Mohamad Ashraful Islam @ashraful

About: Senior Software Engineer | Problem Solver | Team Player

Location:
Dhaka, Bangladesh
Joined:
Aug 20, 2017

Setting Up Pi-hole in Docker with Proper DNS Configuration

Publish Date: Aug 5
1 0

Originally Posted on Ashraful's Blog

This guide walks through

  1. Installing Pi-hole with Docker Compose
  2. Ensuring port 53 is available
  3. Disabling the system's DNS resolver if necessary
  4. Configuring your router to use Pi-hole
  5. Setting up local DNS entries (if you need)

📦 Step 1: Install Pi-hole Using Docker Compose

Create a docker-compose.yml file:

version: "3"

services:
  pihole:
    container_name: pihole
    image: pihole/pihole:latest
    restart: unless-stopped
    ports:
      - "53:53/tcp"
      - "53:53/udp"
      - "8080:80"
      - "8443:443"
    environment:
      TZ: "Asia/Dhaka"
      WEBPASSWORD: "changeme"
    volumes:
      - "./etc-pihole/:/etc/pihole/"
      - "./etc-dnsmasq.d/:/etc/dnsmasq.d/"
    dns:
      - 127.0.0.1
      - 1.1.1.1
    cap_add:
      - NET_ADMIN
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Then run:

docker compose up -d
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🚪 Step 2: Make Sure Port 53 Is Available

Port 53 is critical for DNS. Run this to check if it's already in use:

sudo lsof -i :53
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If you see something like systemd-resolved or named, you need to free that port.

🛑 Step 3: Disable the System DNS Resolver (If Needed)

On most Linux distros, systemd-resolved binds to port 53 by default.

To disable it:

sudo systemctl disable --now systemd-resolved
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Also replace the symlink for /etc/resolv.conf:

sudo rm /etc/resolv.conf
echo "nameserver 127.0.0.1" | sudo tee /etc/resolv.conf
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(You can also add a fallback like 8.8.8.8 if needed.)

🌐 Step 4: Configure Your Router to Use Pi-hole

To apply ad blocking to your whole network:

  1. Log into your router admin page
  2. Find the DHCP/DNS settings
  3. Set Primary DNS to the IP of your Pi-hole server (e.g., 192.168.1.10)
  4. Remove or override any secondary DNS that bypasses Pi-hole (like 8.8.8.8)

Now all devices will query Pi-hole for DNS.

🧭 Step 5: Configure Local DNS (And Why)

✅ Why Configure Local DNS?

Setting up local DNS allows you to:

  • Access devices by name (nas.local, printer.lan, etc.)
  • Avoid typing IP addresses manually
  • Make services on your home server feel more like the cloud

🔧 How to Do It

  1. Go to Pi-hole Admin Panel → Local DNS → DNS Records
  2. Add entries like: 
movie.ashraful.dev → 192.168.10.10
nas.lan → 192.168.10.20
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  1. Test from any device: 
ping movie.ashraful.dev
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If it resolves, you're all set!

✅ Summary

  • Pi-hole in Docker is clean and powerful — just make sure port 53 is free.
  • Disable systemd-resolved if it blocks port 53.
  • Set your router’s DNS to point to Pi-hole to enable network-wide filtering.
  • Use local DNS to make your network smarter and easier to use.

Enjoy ad-free browsing across your entire network! 🧠🛡️

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