Local DNS Records only working on some devices

[jfb]

@Garywoo

If the pi is rebooting, or goes down, suddenly all the internet requests in my network stop resolving?

Yes. It is your DNS server (and should be the only one). There would be no difference if you reboot your router or modem - you lose part of the internet path and lose internet during that time.

Providing other DNS servers in the DHCP process allows queries to bypass Pi-hole.

Why should Pi-hole be my only DNS server?

Reduced Ad Blocking Capability The main reason you should Pi-hole as your only DNS server is that you will see increased performance in the blocking of ads. If you have two DNS servers (Pi-hole and something else), your network clients may not always query Pi-hole for name resolution. If a query happens to be answered from a non-Pi-hole DNS server, your block lists will not apply (since that DNS server doesn't know about them). All Queries Need To Go Through Pi-hole First Since other DNS serv…

You have a few options:

(1) Setup Pi-hole on an independent device that won't be rebooted. Keep it running 24/7.

(2) Add a second Pi-hole, running in parallel with the first. Advertise both those DNS servers in the DHCP process. If you reboot the first one with other things running on it, traffic will seamlessly shift to the running Pi-hole.