dam
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Post by dam on Feb 8, 2022 13:37:44 GMT
I too am going to have a crack at this, but not for a few weeks as I'm busy moving into the house etc. Out of interest, what does one of those local newspaper type web sites look like after all of this? presumably just a blank page pretty much with very little text  Those are a masterclass in "How Not To Monetise a Website". They could have taken the area of local Facebook groups, that NextDoor thing, but instead they've made themselves compete irrelevant to their market and practically unuseable. |
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Post by dominalien on Feb 8, 2022 13:46:32 GMT
Just to be very clear, Pi-hole doesn’t need a Raspberry Pi. It’ll work on a regular machine. Have a PC from 10 years ago? It’ll work on that. It’ll use more power than a Pi, though.
Install a Linux distro (it’s very easy), install Pi-hole following instructions on its website and you’re are at the same spot you’d be with a RPi.
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Post by andytheaverage on Feb 8, 2022 13:51:33 GMT
Just to be very clear, Pi-hole doesn’t need a Raspberry Pi. It’ll work on a regular machine. Have a PC from 10 years ago? It’ll work on that. It’ll use more power than a Pi, though. Install a Linux distro (it’s very easy), install Pi-hole following instructions on its website and you’re are at the same spot you’d be with a RPi. Do you have a guide on how to set that up? I've got a Mac mini running at the moment so it'd be nice if I could use that |
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Post by dominalien on Feb 8, 2022 14:02:15 GMT
Mac mini running macos?
If so, you can use Docker or install linux in a VM (VirtualBox or Parallels or whatever) and run pi-hole from there.
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Post by spacein_vader on Feb 8, 2022 14:54:17 GMT
Just to be very clear, Pi-hole doesn’t need a Raspberry Pi. It’ll work on a regular machine. Have a PC from 10 years ago? It’ll work on that. It’ll use more power than a Pi, though. Install a Linux distro (it’s very easy), install Pi-hole following instructions on its website and you’re are at the same spot you’d be with a RPi. Agree. Pi most efficient but a docker or Linux server works too. As for local papers, this is what mine looks like: photos.app.goo.gl/C7KhwfxZSj1ojhKLA |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Feb 8, 2022 15:07:14 GMT
Just to be very clear, Pi-hole doesn’t need a Raspberry Pi. It’ll work on a regular machine. Have a PC from 10 years ago? It’ll work on that. It’ll use more power than a Pi, though. Install a Linux distro (it’s very easy), install Pi-hole following instructions on its website and you’re are at the same spot you’d be with a RPi. Hmmm... I've a little laptop the kids had that was no use for anything once Windows 10 turned up, so I installed Linux on it. I could trial this in that case and see if it works. I'm concerned I might break my wife's VPN into work with this, so probably best I don't invest a lot into it first. Wouldn't take much to to get this working on that and if its a hit change it to a Pi later. |
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Post by Deleted on Feb 8, 2022 15:13:49 GMT
So... clueless person here. I would need to buy a Pi (from Pi Home I assume) and that can be whatever the base version is. I would then have to have that plugged in somewhere all the time (and this is a bare circuit board in the cheapo versions I think). I assume you need to connect a keyboard and monitor and mouse for the initial setup. Then install an OS (via an SD card?). The OS sounds a bit like Linux which I've messed with a little. Then you install Pi Hole (again I assume via an SD card) and then various blocking lists. You then change your router so that it points to the virtual DNS of the Pi (which I assume has wi-fi so doesn't need to be ethernetted into the router) and you're done. At that point, Youtube, All 4 etc on a smart TV will be Ad free as long as you leave on the Pi. If the Pi dies, your network dies. However, I assume there are also block lists for porn sites and such like which would be handy as those are currently blocked here, but when I switch to FATCO, that might not be the case. I was considering Open DNS (used it before) for when this happens, but this might be a better fix. I assume that the Pi can't be used for anything else while its running pi hole, so it would be the cost of one of them, setup swearing and minimal running costs (As you'd not need the monitor keyboard etc plugged in once its going). I don't know as much about SSH as I should, but assume that is for accessing it remotely from another PC on my network. I don't know how to do that, but I know an internet that does. 1. Correct, a Pi is less than £30, another £5 for an AC adaptor and you need a minimum 16gb (another £5 if you don't have one already. You can run it without a case, or buy one, or make one out of lego, or just cut holes in a cardboard box. 2. It does need to be on all the time but the power draw is tiny, a Pi can run on AA batteries for a day or so for example. 3. I usually borrow the keyboard/monitor from my PC for setup, mouse optional if you stick to the command line. 4. The OS is a version of Linux aimed at new users (the setup is called NOOBS for New Out Of Box Software,) and will be pre installed if you buy the SD card from a Pi shop or a 5 minute download if not. The lite version is fine as you won't use the GUI. 5. Installation is one command on the command line and then Web browser based. It's worth a second command to enable SSH too. 6. You do change your routers DNS. Most routers allow you to set a primary & secondary, if you keep the secondary DNS as a public one your Internet will keep working even if the Pi breaks. 7. Correct, there are porn block lists, fake news ones, religous ones, social media ones you name it. 8. Not sure what FATCO is sorry. 9. It uses the same techniques as open DNS but because you host it locally you can customise it to your own needs with both whichever mix of blocklists you use but personal black/whitelisting. 10. Check the spec but allodetn pis have WiFi except the base Zero (zero W does,) and all have ethernet except the Zero series. 11. You can use the pi for other stuff, dns is not taxing. My pi 3 is blocking a million domains and according to the dash using 3% CPU and 9% of its 2gb memory. 12. SSH is a remote login that gives you access to the pis command line from anywhere on your local network. SSH clients are available for PC, Mac, Android and iOS so you can use anything. Thanks for this, its very helpful. FATCO is just a fibre broadband provider. |
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Post by jimnastics on Feb 8, 2022 15:16:43 GMT
I take it this can't currently block ads on Youtube Music?
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Post by andytheaverage on Feb 8, 2022 15:24:59 GMT
Mac mini running macos? If so, you can use Docker or install linux in a VM (VirtualBox or Parallels or whatever) and run pi-hole from there. I imagine Docker will use all the power in the world? My works MacBook sounds like it's taking off when using it. I might look into it though, thanks |
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Post by dominalien on Feb 8, 2022 15:46:08 GMT
Hmm, I don't know. I've never used Docker, I just know it's the big thing all the cool corporate people talk about.
As for a VM, if you give the Linux install a couple of cores and 4 gigs of RAM it'll run forever without a peep. Less if you don't install a gui, but that's for more experienced folks.
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Post by spacein_vader on Feb 8, 2022 15:50:34 GMT
Just to be very clear, Pi-hole doesn’t need a Raspberry Pi. It’ll work on a regular machine. Have a PC from 10 years ago? It’ll work on that. It’ll use more power than a Pi, though. Install a Linux distro (it’s very easy), install Pi-hole following instructions on its website and you’re are at the same spot you’d be with a RPi. Hmmm... I've a little laptop the kids had that was no use for anything once Windows 10 turned up, so I installed Linux on it. I could trial this in that case and see if it works. I'm concerned I might break my wife's VPN into work with this, so probably best I don't invest a lot into it first. Wouldn't take much to to get this working on that and if its a hit change it to a Pi later. You can put devices into groups with custom blocklists for each. So the kids devices could have porn blocked while you don't and your wife's work device could be put into a group that bypasses pihole altogether if it causes issues. Docker can be resource heavy, but a Pihole instance within it is pretty lightweight by docker standards. People run this on a single core with 256mb of ram and only get slowdown if they run long term analytics queries on the Web interface. |
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Post by spacein_vader on Feb 8, 2022 15:52:24 GMT
I take it this can't currently block ads on Youtube Music? YouTube and their music are tricky. They use a lot of similar domains for the ads and the actual content making it a case of whackamole keeping up. There are daily updated blocklists that work for YouTube but I don't use YouTube music so can't comment. |
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Post by Dougs on Feb 8, 2022 17:46:33 GMT
So I've managed to get it up and running (once I found a power supply with the right voltage and the installation didn't fail 1st time). Have added some lists, only 180k or so domains so far. But nothing blocked according to the dashboard. Some of the usual ad-heavy sites definitely have less ads, but not completely gone. What gives?
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Post by spacein_vader on Feb 8, 2022 17:50:45 GMT
So I've managed to get it up and running (once I found a power supply with the right voltage and the installation didn't fail 1st time). Have added some lists, only 180k or so domains so far. But nothing blocked according to the dashboard. Some of the usual ad-heavy sites definitely have less ads, but not completely gone. What gives? Have you changed your routers DNS provider to be the Pi? |
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Post by Dougs on Feb 8, 2022 18:02:45 GMT
Ah, no. I knew there would be a step I forgot! I assigned it a static IP but that was it. Will see if that works.
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Post by Dougs on Feb 8, 2022 18:09:19 GMT
Done that, still nothing registering and get this message in the diagnosis:
Warning in dnsmasq core:
Ignoring query from non-local network
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Post by spacein_vader on Feb 8, 2022 18:28:25 GMT
Done that, still nothing registering and get this message in the diagnosis: Warning in dnsmasq core: Ignoring query from non-local network Hmmm, it thinks your device is on a different network. What's the IP of the pi? Are the first 3 parts (usually 192.168.1.x or 192.168.0.x) the same as the IP of your computer, phone or tablet you're using? If not that's the issue. If they are try going into Settings > DNS and change Interface Settings to Respond only on eth0, Save then change it back to Allow Local Requests and click save again. Seems sometimes that gets muddled. |
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Post by Dougs on Feb 8, 2022 18:44:14 GMT
It's definitely pointing at the right IP address. At some point I'll give the router a reboot and failing that, will check out your other suggestion. Cheers!
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Post by Dougs on Feb 8, 2022 19:03:37 GMT
Boom, that worked a treat, cheers!
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Post by spacein_vader on Feb 8, 2022 19:08:08 GMT
Boom, that worked a treat, cheers! You're welcome, happy tinkering. |
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Post by Dougs on Feb 8, 2022 22:03:09 GMT
Getting a pretty significant increase in speeds too. Most excellent.
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Post by spacein_vader on Feb 8, 2022 22:24:12 GMT
Getting a pretty significant increase in speeds too. Most excellent. That's because you're not downloading megabytes of ads and tracking bollocks in the background every time you click a new page.
WARNING: The stats page and logging can get addictive. Especislly after a day or two when the most popular domains has time to populate properly and you start to look at what they are and if you really need to be loading them.
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Post by jonsend on Feb 10, 2022 6:05:47 GMT
Came home to pihole not running. Heres What was on the pi console: imgur.com/a/rSSZn3FPerhaps some Sd card access issue? Rebooted and its running but after running overnight the load is very high: imgur.com/a/9cT3SyD |
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Post by Dougs on Feb 10, 2022 7:14:20 GMT
Coincidentally, mine died overnight too. Rebooted it and got the same error message as before. Tried the same settings trick and still nothing. Reboot brings the same error message.
Edit: seems to be working now after changing the settings again.
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Post by spacein_vader on Feb 10, 2022 7:25:36 GMT
Came home to pihole not running. Heres What was on the pi console: imgur.com/a/rSSZn3FPerhaps some Sd card access issue? Rebooted and its running but after running overnight the load is very high: imgur.com/a/9cT3SyDHmmm, from the error looks like a full or failing SD card. How old is it? The load thing isn't a problem if it was only over 15 min duration, usually happens when you either update pihole or add/refresh a lot of blocklists which is often set to run overnight. Is just reboot and see if it does it often. If it's just once a week when the blocklists refresh I wouldn't worry. |
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Post by jonsend on Feb 10, 2022 19:55:00 GMT
Rebooted and cpu load was about 3.5 all day. Rebooted again and its back to notmal (about 0.25). Forced Gravity update and no probs.
The SD card (and Pi) are about 10 years old.
There is a chance one of the cats knocked the SD card (as the OG pi uses the massive cards). The pi is on my desk until im happy its robust enough to hide away somewhere.
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Post by spacein_vader on Feb 11, 2022 1:32:06 GMT
9/10 failures on a Pi of that kind tend to be the SD card particularly if its an old one like that. I'd keep an eye on it.
Have you got it working for smart TV apps and everything else you wanted it for?
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Post by jonsend on Feb 11, 2022 7:57:11 GMT
I have, though I haven't switch the whole network over, just certain devices until I'm happy with the stability.
Other half is certainly happy with Itv an C4 apps not having ads on the TV.
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Post by spacein_vader on Feb 11, 2022 8:05:24 GMT
I have, though I haven't switch the whole network over, just certain devices until I'm happy with the stability. Other half is certainly happy with Itv an C4 apps not having ads on the TV. Certainly earned me some brownie points with the wife and kids. If you decide to replace the SD card I recommend the SanDisk high endurance line. They're designed for constant use like dashcams and seem to last longer. I got a 32gb one for £10 off Amazon. Comes with a micro SD > SD converter too. |
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Post by Dougs on Feb 11, 2022 8:11:47 GMT
I hadn't tried All4. Seems the ads at the beginning of the shows are still there but not those in the middle. Which is still a win imo.
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