s about pihole
s about pihole
We all discussed Google's updates to Chrome and their impact on extensions and ad blockers. I use two tools: Ghoestery and Ad Blocker Plus. Recently, Pi Hole has caught my attention for several reasons. It lessens the load on Chrome overall, works across all my devices, offers possible security benefits, and might help with data limits. I also believe it could cut ad usage, especially since we use Hulu Live for video without cable. My main concerns involve white listing domains, setting up and adjusting Pi Hole, how often updates are needed, required hardware, whether a Raspberry Pi 3B+ is sufficient, if a simple case with power plug would work, and the potential data savings.
there is a web interface that lets you restrict or permit specific domains as desired.
Pi-hole functions by filtering domains recognized as ad-serving or malicious. It offers a user-friendly web interface for adding custom blocks or whitelists, making management straightforward. This approach may lower data consumption since some ads are removed, though not completely. There are no specific figures available here. Setup involves a simple terminal script (display or SSH), and you must adjust your network or router to use Pi-hole as the DNS provider—optionally also DHCP. Basic networking concepts like DHCP and DNS, along with minimal command skills, are sufficient. Pi-hole updates its domain lists automatically, refreshing roughly every 1–2 months. I typically run my network on a Raspberry Pi 2 using Pi-hole for DHCP and DNS, alongside OpenVPN for external access. It works well without requiring high bandwidth, so the hardware is adequate. Just ensure you have a standard Pi model (2, 3, 3B+, etc.), a microSD card, power source via USB or PoE, and a network cable. Avoid heaters or fans; keep the enclosure sealed to prevent dust accumulation.
A Raspberry Pi consumes relatively low power, especially when idle. Using its USB port from a Synology RT2600 AC would provide minimal energy—likely enough to run a small application briefly. It wouldn’t power the device fully, but it could work for simple tasks.
Check the specifications to understand its pulling capacity. Both models support 5v@2A and [email protected] when connected to USB devices. Make sure you consider the maximum load before using them.
Yes, 5V@2A is the highest setting, which means 10W. My Pi 2 runs about 2.4W when starting up and stays near 2.0W while working (no intense usage).