Manual DNS Server setting on Arris BGW210

The AT&T Gateways do not allow you to customize the DNS addresses handed out via DHCP.  If that feature is important to you then you need to get a third party router and install it between the AT&T Gateway and your network. "People and Businesses" at all concerned about network security would know that the AT&T Gateway is a bare bones router at best and expect to install a real router in combination with it.

I understand your position but going back as far back as a Linksys WRT54G (and before) there has been the ability to change the DNS settings of the DHCP server on the cable modem/DSL/Router.  Given the sophistication of this device - it should be available as well.  Requiring a 2nd device either in-line or on the network to provide a basic function like custom DNS setting is sorta ridiculous. I can type custom DNS settings on my PC's  but many appliances and IOT devices do not.

It is a simple request for AT&T to ask this feature be added to the software GUI.

The U-verse Gateway is a modem with some wireless router functionality, intended to serve as a gateway for multiple services in addition to Internet access.  One of these services is U-verse TV.  That service requires a known DNS system, and it's overly complicated to try to figure out whether the device making the DHCP request is an IPTV device or not.  So... the DNS is fixed.  

I've given you the available solution.  I suggest you not wait for AT&T to change this as it won't happen until it no longer distributes IPTV devices that need the DNS.

It's also a convenient way for an ISP to collect all your DNS queries.  Seems like bull to me.  IPTV doesn't require this, it just needs a valid working DNS server to point it to the right IP address/es.

Here is the difference in using AT&T's DNS server to resolve and then connecting to a VPN and using a private DNS server over the same net, just tunneled..  As you can see AT&T DNS service is SLOW.. 

Doing it the AT&T way:

C:\Users\a>nslookup notify.senvid.net
Server: dsldevice.attlocal.net
Address: 192.168.200.254

DNS request timed out. 
timeout was 2 seconds.
DNS request timed out.
timeout was 2 seconds.
Non-authoritative answer:
Name: Mail-MailNASLoadBa-1PRCC5KX7LCHM-91773392.us-west-2.elb.amazonaws.com
Addresses: 52.35.207.224
54.200.114.97
Aliases: notify.senvid.net

Doing it with a private (or any other DNS server besides AT&T):
C:\Users\a>nslookup notify.senvid.net
Server: UnKnown
Address: 10.45.20.1

Non-authoritative answer:
Name: Mail-MailNASLoadBa-1PRCC5KX7LCHM-91773392.us-west-2.elb.amazonaws.com
Addresses: 52.35.207.224
54.200.114.97
Aliases: notify.senvid.net

Also, check your logs..  You will likely see page after page of something like this:

2018-01-17T00:48:37-05:00 L3 dnsmasq[13400]: no responses from nameserver '68.94.156.11'
2018-01-17T00:48:39-05:00 L3 dnsmasq[13400]: nameserver '68.94.156.11' is now responding
2018-01-17T00:54:18-05:00 L3 dnsmasq[13400]: no responses from nameserver '68.94.156.11'
2018-01-17T00:54:18-05:00 L3 dnsmasq[13400]: nameserver '68.94.156.11' is now responding
2018-01-17T01:10:50-05:00 L3 dnsmasq[13400]: no responses from nameserver '68.94.156.11'
2018-01-17T01:10:50-05:00 L3 dnsmasq[13400]: nameserver '68.94.156.11' is now responding
2018-01-17T01:11:29-05:00 L3 dnsmasq[13400]: no responses from nameserver '68.94.157.11'
2018-01-17T01:11:29-05:00 L3 dnsmasq[13400]: nameserver '68.94.157.11' is now responding
2018-01-17T01:13:36-05:00 L3 dnsmasq[13400]: no responses from nameserver '68.94.156.11'
2018-01-17T01:13:36-05:00 L3 dnsmasq[13400]: nameserver '68.94.156.11' is now responding
2018-01-17T01:24:42-05:00 L3 dnsmasq[13400]: no responses from nameserver '68.94.156.11'
2018-01-17T01:24:43-05:00 L3 dnsmasq[13400]: nameserver '68.94.156.11' is now responding
2018-01-17T01:26:42-05:00 L3 dnsmasq[13400]: no responses from nameserver '68.94.156.11'
2018-01-17T01:30:49-05:00 L3 dnsmasq[13400]: nameserver '68.94.156.11' is now responding
2018-01-17T01:46:17-05:00 L3 dnsmasq[13400]: no responses from nameserver '68.94.156.11'
2018-01-17T01:46:34-05:00 L3 dnsmasq[13400]: nameserver '68.94.156.11' is now responding
2018-01-17T01:51:28-05:00 L3 dnsmasq[13400]: no responses from nameserver '68.94.156.11'
2018-01-17T01:52:18-05:00 L3 dnsmasq[13400]: nameserver '68.94.156.11' is now responding
2018-01-17T01:56:42-05:00 L3 dnsmasq[13400]: no responses from nameserver '68.94.156.11'
2018-01-17T01:56:42-05:00 L3 dnsmasq[13400]: nameserver '68.94.156.11' is now responding
2018-01-17T02:06:59-05:00 L3 dnsmasq[13400]: no responses from nameserver '68.94.156.11'
2018-01-17T02:07:02-05:00 L3 dnsmasq[13400]: nameserver '68.94.156.11' is now responding
2018-01-17T02:13:11-05:00 L3 dnsmasq[13400]: no responses from nameserver '68.94.156.11'
2018-01-17T02:13:52-05:00 L3 dnsmasq[13400]: nameserver '68.94.156.11' is now responding
2018-01-17T02:18:33-05:00 L3 dnsmasq[13400]: no responses from nameserver '68.94.156.11'
2018-01-17T02:19:22-05:00 L3 dnsmasq[13400]: nameserver '68.94.156.11' is now responding
2018-01-17T02:29:06-05:00 L3 dnsmasq[13400]: no responses from nameserver '68.94.156.11'
2018-01-17T02:29:07-05:00 L3 dnsmasq[13400]: nameserver '68.94.156.11' is now responding
2018-01-17T02:32:23-05:00 L3 dnsmasq[13400]: no responses from nameserver '68.94.156.11'

ATT, you need to allow your customers to update and set whichever DNS servers they want to use, don't force us to use your crappy DNS servers.

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@tugando wrote:

ATT, you need to allow your customers to update and set whichever DNS servers they want to use, don't force us to use your crappy DNS servers.

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If this feature is important to you then you need to get a third party router and install it between the AT&T Gateway and your network. 

I have read this suggestion in other forum responses to complaints about the limitations put on ATT consumers.  Can you you link to something that provides instructions on how to do this with the Arris?  Thanks!

What am I missing in this thread?  Why is there some obsession wanting to change the DNS being used by the gateway when all one needs to do is change the desired DNS in each respective device's network settings?  Is that so hard?  Or is something else gained by wanting the gateway to do it other than overcoming some laziness not wanting to change the individual devices?  I really what to know what functionality is gained here.

In the "Internet of Things", many devices have no provision for setting a DNS server.

Then get your own router and place it between the Gateway and your device.  Easy peasy.