The Pi-hole® is a [DNS sinkhole](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DNS_Sinkhole) that protects your devices from unwanted content, without installing any client-side software.
The Pi-hole® is a [DNS sinkhole](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DNS_Sinkhole) that protects your devices from unwanted content without installing any client-side software.
- **Easy-to-install**: our versatile installer walks you through the process, and takes less than ten minutes
- **Easy-to-install**: our versatile installer walks you through the process and takes less than ten minutes
- **Resolute**: content is blocked in _non-browser locations_, such as ad-laden mobile apps and smart TVs
- **Responsive**: seamlessly speeds up the feel of everyday browsing by caching DNS queries
- **Lightweight**: runs smoothly with [minimal hardware and software requirements](https://docs.pi-hole.net/main/prerequisites/)
@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ The Pi-hole® is a [DNS sinkhole](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DNS_Sinkhole) th
- **Versatile**: can optionally function as a [DHCP server](https://discourse.pi-hole.net/t/how-do-i-use-pi-holes-built-in-dhcp-server-and-why-would-i-want-to/3026), ensuring *all* your devices are protected automatically
- **Scalable**: [capable of handling hundreds of millions of queries](https://pi-hole.net/2017/05/24/how-much-traffic-can-pi-hole-handle/) when installed on server-grade hardware
- **Modern**: blocks ads over both IPv4 and IPv6
- **Free**: open source software which helps ensure _you_ are the sole person in control of your privacy
- **Free**: open source software that helps ensure _you_ are the sole person in control of your privacy
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@ -57,21 +57,21 @@ Please refer to the [Pi-hole docker repo](https://github.com/pi-hole/docker-pi-h
Once the installer has been run, you will need to [configure your router to have **DHCP clients use Pi-hole as their DNS server**](https://discourse.pi-hole.net/t/how-do-i-configure-my-devices-to-use-pi-hole-as-their-dns-server/245) which ensures that all devices connecting to your network will have content blocked without any further intervention.
If your router does not support setting the DNS server, you can [use Pi-hole's built-in DHCP server](https://discourse.pi-hole.net/t/how-do-i-use-pi-holes-built-in-dhcp-server-and-why-would-i-want-to/3026); just be sure to disable DHCP on your router first (if it has that feature available).
If your router does not support setting the DNS server, you can [use Pi-hole's built-in DHCP server](https://discourse.pi-hole.net/t/how-do-i-use-pi-holes-built-in-dhcp-server-and-why-would-i-want-to/3026); be sure to disable DHCP on your router first (if it has that feature available).
As a last resort, you can always manually set each device to use Pi-hole as their DNS server.
As a last resort, you can manually set each device to use Pi-hole as their DNS server.
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## Pi-hole is free, but powered by your support
## Pi-hole is free but powered by your support
There are many reoccurring costs involved with maintaining free, open source, and privacy-respecting software; expenses which [our volunteer developers](https://github.com/orgs/pi-hole/people) pitch in to cover out-of-pocket. This is just one example of how strongly we feel about our software, as well as the importance of keeping it maintained.
There are many reoccurring costs involved with maintaining free, open source, and privacy-respecting software; expenses which [our volunteer developers](https://github.com/orgs/pi-hole/people) pitch in to cover out-of-pocket. This is just one example of how strongly we feel about our software and the importance of keeping it maintained.
Make no mistake: **your support is absolutely vital to help keep us innovating!**
### [Donations](https://pi-hole.net/donate)
Sending a donation using our Sponsor Button is **extremely helpful** in offsetting a portion of our monthly expenses and rewarding our dedicated development team:
Donating using our Sponsor Button is **extremely helpful** in offsetting a portion of our monthly expenses:
### Alternative support
@ -83,13 +83,13 @@ If you'd rather not donate (_which is okay!_), there are other ways you can help
- Spreading the word about our software, and how you have benefited from it
- Spreading the word about our software and how you have benefited from it
### Contributing via GitHub
We welcome _everyone_ to contribute to issue reports, suggest new features, and create pull requests.
If you have something to add - anything from a typo through to a whole new feature, we're happy to check it out! Just make sure to fill out our template when submitting your request; the questions that it asks will help the volunteers quickly understand what you're aiming to achieve.
If you have something to add - anything from a typo through to a whole new feature, we're happy to check it out! Just make sure to fill out our template when submitting your request; the questions it asks will help the volunteers quickly understand what you're aiming to achieve.
You'll find that the [install script](https://github.com/pi-hole/pi-hole/blob/master/automated%20install/basic-install.sh) and the [debug script](https://github.com/pi-hole/pi-hole/blob/master/advanced/Scripts/piholeDebug.sh) have an abundance of comments, which will help you better understand how Pi-hole works. They're also a valuable resource to those who want to learn how to write scripts or code a program! We encourage anyone who likes to tinker to read through it and submit a pull request for us to review.
@ -97,9 +97,9 @@ You'll find that the [install script](https://github.com/pi-hole/pi-hole/blob/ma
## Getting in touch with us
While we are primarily reachable on our [Discourse User Forum](https://discourse.pi-hole.net/), we can also be found on a variety of social media outlets.
While we are primarily reachable on our [Discourse User Forum](https://discourse.pi-hole.net/), we can also be found on various social media outlets.
**Please be sure to check the FAQ's** before starting a new discussion. Many user questions already have answers and can be solved without any additional assistance.
**Please be sure to check the FAQs** before starting a new discussion, as we do not have the spare time to reply to every request for assistance.
@ -125,15 +125,15 @@ Some of the statistics you can integrate include:
- Queries cached
- Unique clients
The API can be accessed via [`telnet`](https://github.com/pi-hole/FTL), the Web (`admin/api.php`) and Command Line (`pihole -c -j`). You can find out [more details over here](https://discourse.pi-hole.net/t/pi-hole-api/1863).
Access the API via [`telnet`](https://github.com/pi-hole/FTL), the Web (`admin/api.php`) and Command Line (`pihole -c -j`). You can find out [more details over here](https://discourse.pi-hole.net/t/pi-hole-api/1863).
### The Command Line Interface
The [pihole](https://docs.pi-hole.net/core/pihole-command/) command has all the functionality necessary to be able to fully administer the Pi-hole, without the need of the Web Interface. It's fast, user-friendly, and auditable by anyone with an understanding of `bash`.
The [pihole](https://docs.pi-hole.net/core/pihole-command/) command has all the functionality necessary to fully administer the Pi-hole, without the need of the Web Interface. It's fast, user-friendly, and auditable by anyone with an understanding of `bash`.
Some notable features include:
- [Whitelisting, Blacklisting and Regex](https://docs.pi-hole.net/core/pihole-command/#whitelisting-blacklisting-and-regex)
- [Whitelisting, Blacklisting, and Regex](https://docs.pi-hole.net/core/pihole-command/#whitelisting-blacklisting-and-regex)
Adam Warner
3 years ago
committed by