Misc [Release] LocalDNS a new way to block updates

[exelix11]

24/07 update: added switch updates servers to the blacklist, download the latest release

Hi, dirty pirates !
So, let's get to the point: What's LocalDNS ?
It's a DNS "emulator" which you can configure to block wii u, switch, and other consoles updates.

Spoiler: Why emulator ?

I call it emulator because it doesn't resolve the URLs to IPs, it basically receives the DNS packets, and checks if the URLs are allowed or not, if they are, the computer's DNS is used to get the ip, else a domain not found error (NXDOMAIN) is sent.
It also can redirect URLs to other sites or IPs if you feel like experimenting (Note: you can't use custom online servers for games without patching the https certs on the console).

The important part is that this program is written in C# and it's compatible with mono, so you can use it on Windows, Linux and Mac (didn't test this one).

Is it better than the other DNS services or the OpenDNS method ?
For sure, it's better than OpenDNS because it works without needing a static ip.
It's pretty much on the same level as the other DNS services, but has a few advantages:
-If the server is not running the console can't connect to the internet at all.
-You have full control on what's going on, run it on your pc and you can see the logs in real time in the console window
-You can customize the addresses to block, so you can use it for other consoles too.
-Also, it will send the domain not found error, so if you misclick and open the eshop you won't be waiting the timeout to close it.

How to setup:
1) Download and unpack the zip from GitHub
2) Make sure your pc has a static LOCAL ip, you can set it on the router or in the pc settings
3) Set your pc's local ip as both the dns addresses in your console
4) Run the exe (double click on windows, sudo mono LocalDns.exe on linux/mac)
on linux it requires sudo to open a socket

Command line args:
By default the Rules.txt file is loaded, you can use another file with:

(sudo mono) LocalDns.exe -Rules yourFile.txt

You can also use the Rules.txt from the git repo to be always updated:

(sudo mono) LocalDns.exe -DownloadRules

to see the other args use LocalDns.exe ?

To set up a DNS server with a raspberry pi:
I'm using my raspberry pi to block updates, this should work also with other linux minipcs:

Spoiler

Install mono:

sudo apt-get install mono-complete

Copy LocalDns.exe and Rules.txt on the pi, i used winscp.
add LocalDns to auto startup:

sudo nano /etc/rc.local

and write before exit 0

sudo /usr/bin/mono /home/pi/LocalDns.exe -Rules /home/pi/Rules.txt &

the & at the end is important or else the startup will hang, /home/pi/ is the path where i put the exe, you must use the path where you downloaded the file.
then reboot

sudo reboot now

I made this tool during summer for other purposes,later i thought about using it to block updates,but with the recent accomplishments in the scene i decided to release, it's useful if you don't fully trust the public DNS servers or just for when they are all offline

Here are the rules that will be used if you run it with -DownloadRules



Also @brienj made a gui for windows users: https://gbatemp.net/threads/release-localdnsgui-a-windows-gui-for-localdns.452683/

 

[exelix11]

Update: added video

 

[depaul]

This is interesting. So you have to set up a pc that acts as a dns server right?

 

[exelix11]

This is interesting. So you have to set up a pc that acts as a dns server right?

You don't have to set up anything, just run the exe and the server is ready.

 

[cw-kid]

Looks good! Can you still play games online such as Splatoon with this Local DNS server ?

I tried TubeHax but when using that IP the connection test on the Wii U stated no internet connection. Currently the DNS is set to auto obtain.

I did however block a list of Nintendo URLs on my router and if you try and do an update or go to the eShop it doesn't work / fails.

We are currently having issues playing Splatoon battles online however with connection errors and disconnects not sure if its related to blocking those URLs or not or something else?

Thanks

EDIT: Seems Splatoon has started working OK again online maybe just a blip?

 

[Oxybelis]

Nice program without bloat.
cw-kid, Looks TubeHax is currently down.

 

[exelix11]

Looks good! Can you still play games online such as Splatoon with this Local DNS server ?

I tried TubeHax but when using that IP the connection test on the Wii U stated no internet connection. Currently the DNS is set to auto obtain.

I did however block a list of Nintendo URLs on my router and if you try and do an update or go to the eShop it doesn't work / fails.

We are currently having issues playing Splatoon battles online however with connection errors and disconnects not sure if its related to blocking those URLs or not or something else?

Thanks

EDIT: Seems Splatoon has started working OK again online maybe just a blip?

By blocking updates you can still play games online, i often play smash and mk8 without problems.

Blocking updates is basically blocking eshop servers so the console can't download them, there isn't a way to block updates without blocking eshop too, you can disable the dns only when you want to download something or you can use wupinstaller to manually install updates for games.

 

[cw-kid]

Thanks for the further information. I am going to try the other chncdcksn DNS if that doesnt work for me will try your local DNS instead.

 

[cw-kid]

I have the LocalDNS.exe running on my Windows file server. It says 32 rules loaded and socket ready, running on 192.168.0.x

I presume you have to leave this command window open all the time? For the DNS to be running ?

I then entered the servers static LAN IP (192.168.000.00x) in to the Wii U's Wifi connection settings under DNS in both primary and secondary. However the Internet Connection test fails.

How does the Wii get a route out to the internet now ?

Also I am not seeing any requests appear in the LocalDNS log when trying to open the eshop for example.

Thanks

--------------------- MERGED ---------------------------

Actually if I turn off the Windows Firewall on the server, then I do start seeing "Got Request from" messages in the LocalDNS log. So I need to open up a port number or something on the Windows Firewall ?

The Internet Connection test now passes when the Windows Firewall on the server is turned OFF. And the Wii U browser can access loadiine.ovh OK.

If I go in to the Wii U system settings and go to System Update it fails and says "Unable to connect to the server" so that appears to work!

--------------------- MERGED ---------------------------

I've opened up DNS port 53 for TCP and UDP for the private LAN only on the Windows server firewall and now its working with the firewall turned ON.

 

[exelix11]

I have the LocalDNS.exe running on my Windows file server. It says 32 rules loaded and socket ready, running on 192.168.0.x

I presume you have to leave this command window open all the time? For the DNS to be running ?

I then entered the servers static LAN IP (192.168.000.00x) in to the Wii U's Wifi connection settings under DNS in both primary and secondary. However the Internet Connection test fails.

How does the Wii get a route out to the internet now ?

Also I am not seeing any requests appear in the LocalDNS log when trying to open the eshop for example.

Thanks

--------------------- MERGED ---------------------------

Actually if I turn off the Windows Firewall on the server, then I do start seeing "Got Request from" messages in the LocalDNS log. So I need to open up a port number or something on the Windows Firewall ?

The Internet Connection test now passes when the Windows Firewall on the server is turned OFF. And the Wii U browser can access loadiine.ovh OK.

If I go in to the Wii U system settings and go to System Update it fails and says "Unable to connect to the server" so that appears to work!

--------------------- MERGED ---------------------------

I've opened up DNS port 53 for TCP and UDP for the private LAN only on the Windows server firewall and now its working with the firewall turned ON.

Yep you must allow localDNS from the firewall, usually windows shows a warning the first time you open it, probably you have this disabled or clicked no in the prompt.
And yes, you must keep the localDNS console open while you want to be connected to internet, if you close the window, the console won't connect anymore

 

[retrofan_k]

@exelix11 thanks for this tool. Works great

 

[JerJer]

Yep you must allow localDNS from the firewall, usually windows shows a warning the first time you open it, probably you have this disabled or clicked no in the prompt.
And yes, you must keep the localDNS console open while you want to be connected to internet, if you close the window, the console won't connect anymore

How to set up with VPN (like Hotspot shield)? or does that matter?

 

[exelix11]

How to set up with VPN (like Hotspot shield)? or does that matter?

It shouldn't, localdns works only in your local network

 

[air2004]

Nice

 

[Scoop111]

@exelix11 - First off, many thanks for this great tool. It worked like a charm for about a week But now all of a sudden it stopped working. Seems as if the program doesn't get any requests fromm the WiiU anymore. Nothing has changed. Yet I rebootet the Router, Laptop as well as the Wii U and checked the IP settings again. Windows Firewall of course is set correctly.
Any ideas?

 

[exelix11]

@exelix11 - First off, many thanks for this great tool. It worked like a charm for about a week But now all of a sudden it stopped working. Seems as if the program doesn't get any requests fromm the WiiU anymore. Nothing has changed. Yet I rebootet the Router, Laptop as well as the Wii U and checked the IP settings again. Windows Firewall of course is set correctly.
Any ideas?

Did you put the Wii u in the DMZ of the router ? Some routers don't allow sending request to the lan from dmz.
Also what did you change from the last time you used the dns ?

 

[Scoop111]

Thanks for the quick answer. Unfortunately my router only has very limited funktions, even on Expert-Mode -.- Nevertheless both devices could communicate without problem during the last week. It stopped working in the middle of a online-game session (Mario Maker).

The only thing out of the order I did like half an hour before was using a remote-desktop program, which also had a video-chat.
No changes at all made at WiiU settings, Laptop, Router or Firewall. That's why I'm clueless right now...

 

[exelix11]

Thanks for the quick answer. Unfortunately my router only has very limited funktions, even on Expert-Mode -.- Nevertheless both devices could communicate without problem during the last week. It stopped working in the middle of a online-game session (Mario Maker).

The only thing out of the order I did like half an hour before was using a remote-desktop program, which also had a video-chat.
No changes at all made at WiiU settings, Laptop, Router or Firewall. That's why I'm clueless right now...

Try running localdns on another pc so you can know if the problem is your pc or the console, if from another pc works check on your pc with netstat -ano if something on your pc is using the port 53 (it will show the list of ports used and the PID of the process that's using it, kill the process from task manager).

 

[Scoop111]

Sorry, took me a moment.
Just tested on my girlfriends Laptop. Same problem there. On both PC's port 53 is only used by LocalDNS.
If I set DNS to automatic, I get Internet on the Wii U, so I believe the WiFi Adapter is okay...

EDIT: I solved it. I unplugged my router for about ten minutes and it worked again. This latest Vodafone-Routers aka easybox are complete garbage.
Sorry for wasting your time, mate.
Once again, thank you for your great app and support. Really appreciate that. Especially because no other solution works for me. DNS-U and others are completely ignored. Maybe just another stupid issue with my router...

 

[exelix11]

Sorry, took me a moment.
Just tested on my girlfriends Laptop. Same problem there. On both PC's port 53 is only used by LocalDNS.
If I set DNS to automatic, I get Internet on the Wii U, so I believe the WiFi Adapter is okay...

At this point i think the problem is the router, try to factory reset it.
Or another test you could do would be try running Localdns on one pc and setting it as the DNS of the other one and check if the requests appear in the log (windows has a dns cache you should go on a site you didn't visit for a while).