DNS Switcher

A plugin that allows you to quickly switch between different DNS servers directly from Noctalia, with support for custom DNS providers.

Features

• Quick DNS Switching: Switch between popular DNS providers with a single click
• Pre-configured Providers: Includes Google, Cloudflare, OpenDNS, AdGuard, and Quad9
• Custom DNS Servers: Add and manage your own custom DNS servers
• Real-time Status: Displays the current active DNS server in the bar and control center
• Auto-detection: Automatically detects which DNS provider is currently active
• NetworkManager Integration: Uses NetworkManager (nmcli) to manage DNS settings

Usage

1. Click on the DNS widget in the top bar or control center
2. Select a DNS provider from the list
3. The DNS will be changed immediately (requires password for privilege escalation)
4. The current DNS status is displayed in the widget

Pre-configured DNS Providers

• Google: 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4
• Cloudflare: 1.1.1.1 and 1.0.0.1
• OpenDNS: 208.67.222.222 and 208.67.220.220
• AdGuard: 94.140.14.14 and 94.140.15.15
• Quad9: 9.9.9.9 and 149.112.112.112

Adding Custom DNS Servers

1. Open the DNS Switcher panel
2. Click "Add Custom Server"
3. Enter a name for your DNS server
4. Enter the IP address(es) (space-separated for multiple IPs)
5. Click "Save"
6. Your custom server will appear in the list and can be selected like any other provider

Resetting to Default

Click the "Reset to Default (ISP)" button to restore your system's default DNS settings (usually provided by your ISP).

Widgets

• Bar Widget: Displays the current DNS provider name with an icon in the top bar
• Control Center Widget: Shows the DNS status as an icon button in the control center
• Panel: Full panel interface for managing DNS providers and custom servers

Requirements

• Noctalia 4.0.0 or later
• NetworkManager: The plugin uses nmcli to manage DNS settings
• pkexec: Required for privilege escalation to change system DNS settings
• Active Network Connection: Must have an active NetworkManager connection

Technical Details

The plugin:

• Checks the current DNS every 3 seconds
• Uses NetworkManager's connection modification to change DNS settings
• Requires root privileges (via pkexec) to modify network settings
• Automatically restarts the network connection after DNS changes
• Supports both IPv4 DNS configuration

Notes

• DNS changes require administrator privileges, so you'll be prompted for your password
• The plugin only modifies the currently active NetworkManager connection
• Custom DNS servers are saved in the plugin settings and persist across restarts
• If no active connection is found, the DNS change will fail