Can You Use 2 DNS Servers on a Mac?

When setting up your home network, you may have wondered if it's possible to use two DNS servers. While many users don't bother with customizing their DNS settings or simply remember which device has a specific IP address, others may require more advanced configuration.

For instance, when using a VPN client that pushes DNS settings, it can override your home network's DNS and prevent you from resolving internal Fully Qualified Domain Names (FQDNs). This is a common issue for users who need to connect to their local network while maintaining a secure connection through the VPN.

To solve this problem, you'll need to add an additional Network Filter (nf) rule on your Mac. This will allow you to configure multiple DNS resolvers and ensure that your internal DNS resolution remains intact even when connected to a VPN client.

On a Mac running macOS, you can follow these steps to set up multiple DNS resolvers:

1. Go to System Preferences > Network > Advanced > TCP/IP.

2. Click on the 'Renew DHCP Lease' button to refresh your network settings.

3. In the 'TCP/IP' window, click on the 'DNS' tab.

4. Click the '+' button to add a new DNS resolver.

5. Enter the IP address of your second DNS server and give it a name (e.g., 'Secondary DNS').

6. Repeat steps 4-5 for each additional DNS server you want to use.

Once you've added multiple DNS resolvers, you can switch between them using Network Filter rules. To do this:

1. Go to System Preferences > Network > Advanced > Proxies.

2. Click on the 'Proxies' tab and select the 'Customize proxy settings' option.

3. In the 'Proxy Settings' window, click on the 'Advanced' button.

4. In the 'Advanced Proxy Settings' window, click on the 'Network Filter' tab.

5. Click the '+' button to add a new network filter rule.

6. Enter a name for your rule (e.g., 'Use secondary DNS when connected to VPN').

7. Select the 'Apply this rule only when connected to 'VPN client name'' option.

8. In the 'Actions' section, select the 'DNS' option and choose the 'Use specified DNS server(s)' option.

9. Choose the second DNS server (the one you added in step 5) from the dropdown menu.

By following these steps, you can use two DNS servers on your Mac, ensuring that your internal DNS resolution remains intact even when connected to a VPN client.

Can you use 2 dns servers mac