Written 27 Aug 2026. This is a how-to, not a product card.

See which name server the computer is using

When names fail or ads come back, check which DNS the computer asks before you buy a mesh kit.

DNS (the name server) is who the computer asks to turn a site name into a number. If that who is the ISP or the router instead of the computer Pi-hole, house ads can come back on it even when other phones look fine.

Skip until SSH works and Pi-hole is installed

If you have never logged in from the couch, that is SSH from the couch. If you never installed Pi-hole, start with the first useful thing on the computer. If you never pointed the house at it, do that in point the house at the ad block. If ads came back after it already worked, also see when ads come back, check the ad block. This note assumes you can SSH in, and Pi-hole was already the plan.

What this is

A look, not a shopping trip. The house router may point phones at Pi-hole while the computer itself still asks the ISP. Check which name server the computer is asking before you buy a mesh kit. You are not buying Omada, UniFi, or a Protectli tonight.

Ask which name server the computer is using

SSH from the couch, then on Ubuntu or Debian with systemd-resolved:

resolvectl status

Point at DNS Servers and Current DNS Server for the house link (the ethernet or Wi-Fi line that is up). You want the computer's own Pi-hole address when that is the plan. That is often 127.0.0.1, or the house address from see the computer's address on the house network. If you only see the ISP or the router, that is the clue.

Optional older print

If you want the older one-file print:

cat /etc/resolv.conf

Look at the nameserver lines. If you see 127.0.0.53, that is systemd-resolved looping locally. Use resolvectl status for the real name server. Keep this light. Don't edit resolved configs tonight.

What the look means

Wrong DNS means fix the pointing in point the house at the ad block, or check that Pi-hole is still answering in when ads come back, check the ad block. If a house job failed to start, that is see if any house jobs failed to start. Don't buy Omada or UniFi for this look. The admin password is a different note: change the Pi-hole admin password.

What next

Name lookup: look up a site name from the computer. Past the router: check that the computer can reach the internet. Router points at Pi-hole: point the house at the ad block. Ads check: when ads come back, check the ad block.

Skip

• Skip if SSH fails. That is SSH from the couch.
• Skip a mesh kit for wrong DNS.
• Skip buying a Protectli.
• Skip forwarding port 53.
• Skip Proxmox tonight. That is what a VM is, and when you don't need one.