DNS sinkhole for Pi-Hole configuration
DNS sinkhole for Pi-Hole configuration
It doesn’t seem necessary to assume there are drivers available; you’re already familiar with connecting. The simpler option would be to purchase a network switch, which is affordable and widely accessible.
You need a switch. Be careful when configuring the DNS IP address. If you can, purchase a newer router. Using your ISP's equipment will improve performance significantly. You could even cut costs if your ISP charges for renting a router.
I support using a dedicated gigabit switch. A wired connection offers a significantly more stable link compared to WiFi. Since the PiHole will manage all DNS queries, you'll benefit from a device that operates smoothly with minimal disruptions. Unmanaged gigabit switches are affordable on Amazon—just pick the port count you require and purchase it.
It's necessary to assign a static IP address to the Raspberry Pi. This process works similarly for a switch and differs from connecting straight to the router.
A switch device isn’t capable of routing tasks; your router manages those functions. You’re right about needing a fixed IP for your PiHole if all devices rely on it. This can be configured at either the router or PiHole, with the latter being simpler but possibly restricted by your router’s settings. I also operate a PiHole and UniFi Controller on my RPi. At my router (Edgerouter-X), I’ve assigned a static IP to the RPi’s MAC address so it consistently receives the same address upon connection—this internal IP isn’t part of the DHCP range. I’ve also configured the DNS server at the router level to match the RPi’s static IP. The advantage here is you don’t need to assign a unique DNS IP for each client device unless you prefer that route.
I don’t understand much about internet topics, so it seems you were a bit confused. Would you like a video guide to set up DNS without changing IPs per device? For your needs, the Amazon link you shared appears to be for a networking product—let me know if you’d like help finding something suitable for gigabit LAN, gaming, and streaming.
It could be a bit excessive unless you require advanced features. If not, an unmanaged 8-port gigabit switch like the Netgear or TP-Link works well and is much cheaper. Once you configure the RPi with PiHole, assign it a fixed static IP address. Use that same address as the DNS server in your router’s LAN configuration.