DNS Proxy: Creating DNS entries for internal/private network

If a domain name must be resolved to an internal IP address, we need to create a DNS record. This is possible if an Internal DNS server is present. However, if an internal DNS server is not present, we can make use of the DNS proxy feature and create Static DNS Proxy Cache Entries to achieve the same.

In this set up, the SonicWall will act as the DNS server only for that query while the rest of the DNS requests will go to the public DNS server.

Resolution for SonicOS 7.X

This release includes significant user interface changes and many new features that are different from the SonicOS 6.5 and earlier firmware. The below resolution is for customers using SonicOS 7.X firmware.

1. Navigate to Network | DNS Proxy

2. Enable DNS Proxy and click on Accept.

3. Navigate to Static DNS Proxy Cache Entries tab

4. Create a static DNS entry for the domain/URL by clicking on the "Add" button

5. Navigate to Network | System | Interfaces

6. Edit the Interface where the local network is configured (In this case, X0)

7. Under Advanced tab, check the ‘Enable DNS Proxy’ option

8. If the SonicWall is acting as a DHCP server, add the Sonicwall Interface IP as the DNS server under the DNS/WINS tab of the DHCP dynamic scope,  if in case the devices are statically configured, mention the SonicWall LAN IP as the primary DNS server.

9. Once everything is configured as mentioned above, the URL should resolve to the IP address mentioned in the Static DNS Proxy Cache entry.

Resolution for SonicOS 6.5

This release includes significant user interface changes and many new features that are different from the SonicOS 6.2 and earlier firmware. The below resolution is for customers using SonicOS 6.5 firmware.

1. Navigate to Manage | Network | DNS Proxy

2. Enable DNS Proxy

3. Under the Static DNS Proxy Cache Entries tab, click on Add

4. Create a DNS entry for the domain/URL

5. Navigate to Manage | Network | Interfaces

6. Edit the Interface where the local network is configured (In this case, X0)

7. Under Advanced tab, check the ‘Enable DNS Proxy’ option

8. If the SonicWall is acting as DHCP server, add the SonicWall Interface IP as the DNS server under the DNS/WINS tab of the DHCP dynamic scope, if the devices are statically configured, mention the SonicWall LAN IP as the primary DNS server

9. Once everything is configured as mentioned above, the URL should resolve to the IP address mentioned in the Static DNS Proxy Cache entry