<b>Network-wide ad blocking via your own Linux hardware</b>
</p>
## Pi-hole®: The multi-platform, network-wide ad blocker
# Core & Command Line Interface
Block ads for **all** your devices _without_ the need to install client-side software.
## Summary
The Pi-hole blocks ads via a [DNS sinkhole](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DNS_Sinkhole), so all your devices are protected without the need to install client-side software.
## Executive Summary
The Pi-hole blocks ads at the DNS-level, so all your devices are protected.
- **Easy-to-install**: our versatile installer walks you through the process, and [takes less than ten minutes](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vKWjx1AQYgs)
- **Resolute**: ads are blocked in _non-browser locations_ such as ad-laden mobile apps and smart TVs
- **Fast**: speeds up the feel of everyday browsing by caching DNS queries, saving bandwidth
- **Lightweight**: runs smoothly and requires [minimal resources](https://discourse.pi-hole.net/t/hardware-software-requirements/273)
- **Robust**: a command line interface for those preferring CLI, and/or wanting to automate tasks
- **Informative**: a beautiful and secure Web Admin dashboard to control your Pi-hole
- **Versatile**: can optionally function as a DHCP server, ensuring each device will not need further intervention
- **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 powerful 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
- **Easy-to-install** - our intelligent installer walks you through the process with no additional software needed on client devices
- **Universal** - ads are blocked in _non-browser locations_ such as ad-supported mobile apps and smart TVs
- **Quick** - installation takes less than ten minutes and it [_really_ is _that easy_](https://discourse.pi-hole.net/t/new-pi-hole-questions/3971/5?u=jacob.salmela)
- **Informative** - an administrative Web interface shows ad-blocking statistics
- **Lightweight** - designed to run on [minimal resources](https://discourse.pi-hole.net/t/hardware-software-requirements/273)
- **Scalable** - even in large environments, [Pi-hole can handle hundreds of millions of queries](https://pi-hole.net/2017/05/24/how-much-traffic-can-pi-hole-handle/) (with the right hardware specs)
- **Powerful** - advertisements are blocked over IPv4 _and_ IPv6
- **Fast** - it speeds up high-cost, high-latency networks by caching DNS queries and saves bandwidth by not downloading advertisement elements
- **Versatile** - Pi-hole can function also function as a DHCP server
-----
# One-Step Automated Install
1. Install a [supported operating system](https://discourse.pi-hole.net/t/hardware-software-requirements/273/1)
2. Run the command below (it downloads [this script](https://github.com/pi-hole/pi-hole/blob/master/automated%20install/basic-install.sh) in case you want to read over it first!)
## One-Step Automated Install
1. Install a [supported operating system](https://discourse.pi-hole.net/t/hardware-software-requirements/273/1)
_If you wish to read over the script before running it, run `nano basic-install.sh` to open the file in a text viewer._
## Alternative Install Methods
[Piping to `bash` can be dangerous](https://pi-hole.net/2016/07/25/curling-and-piping-to-bash/), so we understand the importance of giving people the option to review our code! Our installer is [found here](https://github.com/pi-hole/pi-hole/blob/master/automated%20install/basic-install.sh), if you wish to read it before running.
### Clone our repository and run the automated installer from your device.
You can install Pi-hole via one of the two alternative methods:
### Clone our repository and run the automated installer from your device
Once installed, [configure your router to have **DHCP clients use the 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) and then any device that connects to your network will have ads blocked without any further configuration.
## Post-install: Make your network take advantage of Pi-hole
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.
Once the installer has been run, you will need to [configure your router to have **DHCP clients use the 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) so that any device that connects to your network will have ads blocked without any further intervention.
Alternatively, you can manually set each device to use Pi-hole as their DNS server.
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).
As a last resort, you can always manually set each device to use Pi-hole as their DNS server.
-----
## Pi-hole is free, but powered by your support
There are many reoccuring costs involved with maintaining free, open source and privacy respecting software; expenses which [our volunteers](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.
# Pi-hole Is Free, But Powered By Your Donations
Make no mistake: **your support is absolutely vital to help keep us innovating!**
All [our developers](https://github.com/orgs/pi-hole/people) are volunteers, so *your donations help keep us innovating*. Sending a donation using our links below helps us offset a portion of our monthly costs.
### Donations
Sending a donation using our links below is **extremely helpful** in offset a portion of our monthly costs:
-  [Donate via PayPal](https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=3J2L3Z4DHW9UY)
-  [Donate via PayPal](https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=3J2L3Z4DHW9UY)
If you'd rather not send money, there are [other ways to support us](https://pi-hole.net/donate): you can sign up for services through our affiliate links, which will also help us offset some of the costs associated with keeping Pi-hole operational; or you can support us in some non-tangible ways as listed below.
### Alternative support
If you'd rather not donate (_which is okay!_), there are other ways you can help support us:
### Contributing Code Via Pull Requests
- [Digital Ocean](http://www.digitalocean.com/?refcode=344d234950e1) affiliate link
- [Vultr](http://www.vultr.com/?ref=7190426) affiliate link
- [UNIXstickers.com](http://unixstickers.refr.cc/jacobs) affiliate link
- [Pi-hole Swag Store](https://pi-hole.net/shop/)
- Spreading the word about our software, and how you have benefited from it
We don't work on Pi-hole for monetary reasons; we work on it because we think it's fun and we think our software is important in today's world. To that end, we welcome all contributors--from novices to masters.
### Contributing via GitHub
We welcome everyone to contribute to issue reports, suggest new features and create pull requests.
If you feel you have some code to contribute, we're happy to take a look. Just make sure to fill out our template when submitting a pull request. We're all volunteers on the project and without all the information in the template, it's very difficult for us to quickly get the code merged in.
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.
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. These are two important scripts but we think they can also be a valuable resource to those who want to learn how to write scripts or code a program, which is why they are fully commented. So we encourage anyone who likes to tinker to read through it and submit a PR for us to review.
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.
### Presenting About Pi-hole
### Presentations about Pi-hole
Word-of-mouth continues to help our project grow immensely, and we'd like to help those who are going to be presenting Pi-hole at a conference, meetup or even a school project. If you'd like some free swag to hand out to your audience, [get in touch with us](https://pi-hole.net/2017/05/17/giving-a-presentation-on-pi-hole-contact-us-first-for-some-goodies-and-support/).
Word-of-mouth has immensely helped our project grow. If you are going to be presenting about Pi-hole at a conference, meetup, or even for a school project, [get a hold of us for some free swag](https://pi-hole.net/2017/05/17/giving-a-presentation-on-pi-hole-contact-us-first-for-some-goodies-and-support/) to hand out to your audience.
- [/r/pihole on Reddit](https://www.reddit.com/r/pihole/)
- [@The_Pi_Hole on Twitter](https://twitter.com/The_Pi_Hole)
- [Pi-hole on YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCT5kq9w0wSjogzJb81C9U0w)
- [ThePiHole on Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/ThePiHole/)
- [Chat on Gitter](https://gitter.im/pi-hole/pi-hole?utm_source=badge&utm_medium=badge&utm_campaign=pr-badge&utm_content=badge)
## The Dashboard (Web Interface)
-----
The [dashboard](https://github.com/pi-hole/AdminLTE#pi-hole-admin-dashboard) will (by default) be enabled during installation so you can view stats, change settings, and configure your Pi-hole.
## Features
* <sub>[The Web Admin Dashboard](#the-web-admin-dashboard)</sub>
The optional dashboard (based on [almasaeed2010's AdminLTE](https://github.com/almasaeed2010/AdminLTE) Admin Control Panel) allows you to view stats, change settings, and configure your Pi-hole.
@ -97,40 +130,57 @@ There are several ways to [access the dashboard](https://discourse.pi-hole.net/t
2. `http:/pi.hole/admin/` (when using Pi-hole as your DNS server)
3. `http://pi.hole/` (when using Pi-hole as your DNS server)
### The Query Log
## The Faster-Than-Light Engine
The [FTL API](https://github.com/pi-hole/FTL) can be accessed via the Web, Command Line and `telnet`.
The Web (`admin/api.php`) and Command Line (`pihole -c -j`) will return `json` formatted output:
```
{
"domains_being_blocked":111175,
"dns_queries_today":15669,
"ads_blocked_today":1752,
"ads_percentage_today":11.181314,
"unique_domains":1178,
"queries_forwarded":9177,
"queries_cached":4740,
"unique_clients":18
}
```
More details on the API can be found [here](https://discourse.pi-hole.net/t/pi-hole-api/1863) and `telnet` on [the repo itself](https://github.com/pi-hole/FTL).
If enabled, the query log will show all of the DNS queries requested by clients using Pi-hole as their DNS server. Forwarded domains will show in green, and blocked (_Pi-holed_) domains will show in red. You can also white or black list domains from within this section.
### The Query Log
If enabled, the query log will show all of the DNS queries requested by clients using Pi-hole as their DNS server. Forwarded domains will show in green, and blocked (_Pi-holed_) domains will show in red. You can also whitelist or blacklist domains from within this section.
The query log and graphs are what have helped people [discover what sort of traffic is traversing their networks](https://pi-hole.net/2017/07/06/round-3-what-really-happens-on-your-network/).
The query log and graphs are what have helped people [discover all sorts of unexpected traffic traversing their networks](https://pi-hole.net/2017/07/06/round-3-what-really-happens-on-your-network/).
#### Long-term Statistics
Using our Faster-Than-Light Engine ([FTL](https://github.com/pi-hole/FTL)), Pi-hole can store all of the domains queried in a database for retrieval or analysis later on. You can view this data as a graph, individual queries, or top clients/advertisers.
Using our FTL API, Pi-hole can store all of the domains queried in a database for retrieval or analysis later on. You can view this data as a graph, individual queries, top clients/advertisers, or even query the database yourself for your own applications.
Domains can be [whitelisted](https://discourse.pi-hole.net/t/commonly-whitelisted-domains/212) and/or [blacklisted](https://discourse.pi-hole.net/t/commonly-blacklisted-domains/305) using either the dashboard or [the `pihole` command](https://discourse.pi-hole.net/t/the-pihole-command-with-examples/738).
### Whitelisting and Blacklisting
Domains can be [whitelisted](https://discourse.pi-hole.net/t/commonly-whitelisted-domains/212) or [blacklisted](https://discourse.pi-hole.net/t/commonly-blacklisted-domains/305) using either the dashboard, or via [the `pihole` command](https://discourse.pi-hole.net/t/the-pihole-command-with-examples/738).
By default, Pi-hole blocks over 100,000 known ad-serving domains. You can expand the blocking power of your Pi-hole by [adding additional lists](https://discourse.pi-hole.net/t/how-do-i-add-additional-block-lists-to-pi-hole/259) such as the ones found on [The Big Blocklist Collection](https://wally3k.github.io/).
Pi-hole's stock block lists cover over 100,000 known ad-serving domains, which helps ensure you encounter minimal false positives. You can expand the blocking power of your Pi-hole by [adding additional lists](https://discourse.pi-hole.net/t/how-do-i-add-additional-block-lists-to-pi-hole/259) such as the ones found at [The Big Blocklist Collection](https://wally3k.github.io/).
Sometimes you may want to stop using Pi-hole or turn it back on. You can trigger this via the dashboard or command line.
### Enable and Disable Pi-hole
There are times where you may want to disable the blocking functionality, and turn it back on again. You can toggle this via the dashboard or command line.
This runs [`gravity`](https://github.com/pi-hole/pi-hole/blob/master/gravity.sh) which checks your source list for updates, and downloads if changes are found.
#### Update Ad Lists
This runs `gravity` to download any newly-added domains from your source lists.
#### Query Ad Lists
You can find out what list a certain domain was on. This is useful for troubleshooting sites that may not work properly due to a blocked domain.
##### Query Ad Lists
You can find out what blocklist a specific domain was found on. This is useful for troubleshooting websites that may not work properly due to a blocked domain.
#### `tail`ing Log Files
You can [watch the log files](https://discourse.pi-hole.net/t/how-do-i-watch-and-interpret-the-pihole-log-file/276) in real time to help debug any issues, or just see what's happening with your Pi-hole.
##### `tail`ing Log Files
You can [watch the log files](https://discourse.pi-hole.net/t/how-do-i-watch-and-interpret-the-pihole-log-file/276) in real time to help debug any issues, or just see what's happening on your network.
#### Pi-hole Debugger
If you are having trouble with your Pi-hole, this is the place to go. You can run the debugger and it will attempt to diagnose any issues and then link to an FAQ with instructions on rectifying the problem.
##### Pi-hole Debugger
If you are having trouble with your Pi-hole, this is the place to go. You can run the debugger and it will attempt to diagnose any issues, and then link to an FAQ with instructions on rectifying the problem.
If run [via the command line](https://discourse.pi-hole.net/t/the-pihole-command-with-examples/738#debug), you will see red/yellow/green text, which makes it easy to identify any problems.
If run [via the command line](https://discourse.pi-hole.net/t/the-pihole-command-with-examples/738#debug), you will see coloured text, which makes it easy to identify any problems.
After the debugger has finished, you have the option to upload it to our secure server for 48 hours. All you need to do then is provide one of our developers the unique token generated by the debugger (this is usually done via [our forums](https://discourse.pi-hole.net/c/bugs-problems-issues)).
After the debugger has finished, you have the option to upload it to our secure server for 48 hours. All you need to do is provide [one of our developers](https://github.com/orgs/pi-hole/teams/debug/members) the unique token generated by the debugger via [one of the various ways of getting in touch with us](#getting-in-touch-with-us).
Pi-hole ships with a [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). This allows you to let your network devices use Pi-hole as their DNS server if your router does not let you adjust the DHCP options.
## Built-in DHCP Server
Pi-hole ships with a [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). This allows you to let your network devices use Pi-hole as their DNS server if your router does not let you adjust the DHCP options.
One nice feature of using Pi-hole's DHCP server if you can set hostnames and DHCP reservations so you'll [see hostnames in the query log instead of IP addresses](https://discourse.pi-hole.net/t/how-do-i-show-hostnames-instead-of-ip-addresses-in-the-dashboard/3530). You can still do this without using Pi-hole's DHCP server; it just takes a little more work. If you do plan to use Pi-hole's DHCP server, be sure to disable DHCP on your router first.
One nice feature of using Pi-hole's DHCP server if you can set hostnames and DHCP reservations so you'll [see hostnames in the query log instead of IP addresses](https://discourse.pi-hole.net/t/how-do-i-show-hostnames-instead-of-ip-addresses-in-the-dashboard/3530). You can still do this without using Pi-hole's DHCP server; it just takes a little more work. If you do plan to use Pi-hole's DHCP server, be sure to disable DHCP on your router first.
A read-only API can be accessed at `admin/api.php` (the same output can be achieved on the CLI by running `pihole -c -j`).
It returns the following JSON:
``` json
{
"domains_being_blocked":111175,
"dns_queries_today":15669,
"ads_blocked_today":1752,
"ads_percentage_today":11.181314,
"unique_domains":1178,
"queries_forwarded":9177,
"queries_cached":4740,
"unique_clients":18
}
```
More details on the API can be found [here](https://discourse.pi-hole.net/t/pi-hole-api/1863) and on [the repo itself](https://github.com/pi-hole/FTL).
### Real-time Statistics, Courtesy Of The Time Cops
### Real-time Statistics
Using [chronometer2](https://github.com/pi-hole/pi-hole/blob/master/advanced/Scripts/chronometer.sh), you can view [real-time stats](https://discourse.pi-hole.net/t/how-do-i-view-my-pi-holes-stats-over-ssh-or-on-an-lcd-using-chronometer/240) via `ssh` or on an LCD screen such as the [2.8" LCD screen from Adafruit](http://amzn.to/1P0q1Fj).
Simply run `pihole -c` for some detailed information.
<sub><ahref="https://www.reddit.com/r/pihole/comments/6ldjna/pihole_setup_went_so_well_at_home_for_the_1st/">Image courtesy of /u/super_nicktendo22</a></sub>
- [](https://gitter.im/pi-hole/pi-hole?utm_source=badge&utm_medium=badge&utm_campaign=pr-badge&utm_content=badge)
# Technical Details
To summarize into a short sentence, the Pi-hole is an **advertising-aware DNS/Web server**. And while quite outdated at this point, [this original blog post about Pi-hole](https://jacobsalmela.com/2015/06/16/block-millions-ads-network-wide-with-a-raspberry-pi-hole-2-0/) goes into **great detail** about how it was setup and how it works. Syntactically, it's no longer accurate, but the same basic principles and logic still apply to Pi-hole's current state.
# Pi-hole Projects
- [An ad blocking Magic Mirror](https://zonksec.com/blog/magic-mirror-dns-filtering/#dnssoftware)
- [Pi-hole stats in your Mac's menu bar](https://getbitbar.com/plugins/Network/pi-hole.1m.py)
- [Get LED alerts for each blocked ad](http://thetimmy.silvernight.org/pages/endisbutton/)
- [Pi-hole on Ubuntu 14.04 on VirtualBox](http://hbalagtas.blogspot.com/2016/02/adblocking-with-pi-hole-and-ubuntu-1404.html)
- [Docker Pi-hole container (x86 and ARM)](https://hub.docker.com/r/diginc/pi-hole/)
- [Go Bananas for CHiP-hole ad blocking](https://www.hackster.io/jacobsalmela/chip-hole-network-wide-ad-blocker-98e037)
- [Sky-Hole](http://dlaa.me/blog/post/skyhole)
- [Pi-hole in the Cloud!](http://blog.codybunch.com/2015/07/28/Pi-Hole-in-the-cloud/)
- [unRaid-hole](https://github.com/spants/unraidtemplates/blob/master/Spants/unRaid-hole.xml#L13)--[Repo and more info](http://lime-technology.com/forum/index.php?PHPSESSID=c0eae3e5ef7e521f7866034a3336489d&topic=38486.0)
- [Medium: Block All Ads For $53](https://medium.com/@robleathern/block-ads-on-all-home-devices-for-53-18-a5f1ec139693#.gj1xpgr5d)
- [MakeUseOf: Adblock Everywhere, The Pi-hole Way](http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/adblock-everywhere-raspberry-pi-hole-way/)
- [Lifehacker: Turn Your Pi Into An Ad Blocker With A Single Command](http://lifehacker.com/turn-a-raspberry-pi-into-an-ad-blocker-with-a-single-co-1686093533)!
- [Pi-hole on TekThing](https://youtu.be/8Co59HU2gY0?t=2m)
- [Pi-hole on Security Now! Podcast](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p7-osq_y8i8&t=100m26s)
- [Pi-hole on Ubuntu](http://www.boyter.org/2015/12/pi-hole-ubuntu-14-04/)
- [Catchpoint: iOS 9 Ad Blocking](http://blog.catchpoint.com/2015/09/14/ad-blocking-apple/)
- [Build an Ad-Blocker for less than 10$ with Orange-Pi](http://www.devacron.com/orangepi-zero-as-an-ad-block-server-with-pi-hole/)
-----
## Technical Details
To summarize into a short sentence, the Pi-hole is an **advertising-aware DNS/Web server**. While quite outdated at this point, [this original blog post about Pi-hole](https://jacobsalmela.com/2015/06/16/block-millions-ads-network-wide-with-a-raspberry-pi-hole-2-0/) goes into **great detail** about how it was setup and how it works. Syntactically, it's no longer accurate, but the same basic principles and logic still apply to Pi-hole's current state.
-----
## Pi-hole Projects
- [An ad blocking Magic Mirror](https://zonksec.com/blog/magic-mirror-dns-filtering/#dnssoftware)
- [Pi-hole stats in your Mac's menu bar](https://getbitbar.com/plugins/Network/pi-hole.1m.py)
- [Get LED alerts for each blocked ad](http://thetimmy.silvernight.org/pages/endisbutton/)
- [Pi-hole on Ubuntu 14.04 on VirtualBox](http://hbalagtas.blogspot.com/2016/02/adblocking-with-pi-hole-and-ubuntu-1404.html)
- [Docker Pi-hole container (x86 and ARM)](https://hub.docker.com/r/diginc/pi-hole/)
- [Go Bananas for CHiP-hole ad blocking](https://www.hackster.io/jacobsalmela/chip-hole-network-wide-ad-blocker-98e037)
- [Sky-Hole](http://dlaa.me/blog/post/skyhole)
- [Pi-hole in the Cloud!](http://blog.codybunch.com/2015/07/28/Pi-Hole-in-the-cloud/)
- [unRaid-hole](https://github.com/spants/unraidtemplates/blob/master/Spants/unRaid-hole.xml#L13)--[Repo and more info](http://lime-technology.com/forum/index.php?PHPSESSID=c0eae3e5ef7e521f7866034a3336489d&topic=38486.0)
- [Medium: Block All Ads For $53](https://medium.com/@robleathern/block-ads-on-all-home-devices-for-53-18-a5f1ec139693#.gj1xpgr5d)
- [MakeUseOf: Adblock Everywhere, The Pi-hole Way](http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/adblock-everywhere-raspberry-pi-hole-way/)
- [Lifehacker: Turn Your Pi Into An Ad Blocker With A Single Command](http://lifehacker.com/turn-a-raspberry-pi-into-an-ad-blocker-with-a-single-co-1686093533)!
- [Pi-hole on TekThing](https://youtu.be/8Co59HU2gY0?t=2m)
- [Pi-hole on Security Now! Podcast](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p7-osq_y8i8&t=100m26s)
WaLLy3K
7 years ago
committed by