Self-Hosting My Own DNS Server: Pi-hole with Proxmox Helper Scripts

In today’s world of increasing online surveillance and intrusive ads, self-hosting has become a powerful way to regain control over your digital privacy. One of the best ways to achieve this is by setting up a Pi-hole DNS server. This guide will walk you through self-hosting your own Pi-hole using Proxmox Helper Scripts, simplifying the process while ensuring an efficient and private network-wide ad blocker.

Haseeb

1/24/20253 min read

What is Pi-hole?

Pi-hole is a DNS-level ad blocker that filters ads and trackers for all devices on your network. By setting up your own Pi-hole server, you can:

  • Enhance Privacy: Block trackers and malicious domains before they reach your devices.

  • Boost Browsing Speed: Eliminate ads and reduce loading times.

  • Achieve Network-Wide Coverage: Protect all devices, including IoT gadgets, from intrusive ads.

Prerequisites

Before we dive in, make sure you have the following:

  • A Proxmox VE server (I used an HP workstation for my setup).

  • Basic knowledge of Proxmox and networking.

  • Access to Proxmox Helper Scripts, a collection of automation scripts for container management.

Step 1: Preparing Proxmox

  1. Update Proxmox: Keep your Proxmox installation up-to-date to avoid compatibility issues:

Why Use Proxmox for Pi-hole?

Proxmox Virtual Environment (VE) is a robust platform for running virtual machines (VMs) and containers. It’s ideal for hosting Pi-hole due to its:

  • Ease of Use: Manage VMs and containers with an intuitive web interface.

  • Resource Efficiency: Host lightweight Pi-hole containers without overloading your system.

  • Automation: With Proxmox Helper Scripts, deploying Pi-hole becomes a breeze.

2. Install PiHole using Helper Scripts:Execute the command in Proxmox Shell

Step 2: Configuring Pi-hole

Once the container is created, configure Pi-hole as follows:

  1. Assign a Static IP Address: During the setup process, assign a static IP to the Pi-hole container. This ensures that devices on your network can consistently use it as their DNS server.

  2. Access the Web Interface: Open your browser and navigate to the Pi-hole admin panel:


  3. Use the credentials provided during installation to log in.

  4. Set Up Upstream DNS Servers: Configure Pi-hole to forward non-blocked queries to your preferred DNS provider (e.g., Cloudflare or Google DNS).

  5. Enhance Blocklists: While Pi-hole includes default blocklists, you can add custom lists for more comprehensive ad blocking. Popular blocklists are readily available online.

Step 4: Monitor and Maintain Pi-hole

  1. View DNS Queries: Use the web interface to monitor blocked domains and track DNS activity.

  2. Update Pi-hole: Keep your Pi-hole installation up-to-date for improved performance and new features:

  3. Backup Configurations: Export your settings regularly to ensure you can restore your Pi-hole setup if needed.

Common Challenges and Solutions

  1. Networking Issues:

    • Assigning a static IP within my VLAN setup required adjustments in Proxmox’s network configuration.

  2. Overblocking Legitimate Sites:

    • Whitelisting domains in Pi-hole’s admin panel resolved these issues.

Conclusion – Why Self-Hosted DNS Rocks
And there you have it—a fully functional Pi-hole DNS server on Proxmox.

By now, you’ve:

  • Created a Pi-hole VM.

  • Automated the setup with helper scripts.

  • Configured DNS and blocklists.

  • Integrated Pi-hole into your network.

The benefits?

  • No more ads.

  • Better privacy.

  • Full control over your network.

Ready to take it further?
Experiment with more blocklists, add a second Pi-hole for redundancy, or dive into advanced DNS settings.

FAQs

Q: Do I need a powerful server for Pi-hole?
A: Not at all. Pi-hole runs smoothly on minimal resources.

Q: Can I use Pi-hole with other self-hosted apps?
A: Absolutely! Pi-hole pairs well with apps like Nextcloud or Home Assistant.

Q: What if Pi-hole goes down?
A: Set a secondary DNS server (e.g., Cloudflare) as a backup.

Q: Is Pi-hole legal?
A: Yes, it’s completely legal to block ads on your own network.

Final Thoughts
Self-hosting your DNS server with Pi-hole and Proxmox is a game-changer.
It’s simple, effective, and puts you in control.

Whether you’re a self-hosting enthusiast, a privacy-conscious individual, or a home lab user, this setup is for you.

So, what are you waiting for?
Dive in, block those ads, and take back your internet.

Keyword: Self-hosting, Self-hosted, Linux, Servers