Hi everyone,

I own a homeserver running multiple services set up in individual docker compose projects. One of them is dnsmasq + pi-hole. Pi-hole is exposed on the host’s 53 port and uses dnsmasq as upstream. The host’s /etc/resolv.conf points to 127.0.0.1 to use pi-hole. Other containers from other compose projects on the same machine indirectly use pi-hole as well, as they use docker’s embedded DNS which forwards to the host.

Everything had worked fine for weeks before I ran into an issue after unattended-upgrades updated docker. After the upgrade, systemd attempted to restart the docker service. From the logs, it seems that the containers had a hard time honoring the SIGTERM. They started to complain about failing to reach the DNS server. At least that’s my understanding from journalctl -u docker. Here’s a (long) excerpt that shows:

  • containers failing to stop gracefully
  • stale processes after docker forcibly shut them down
  • repeated errors “stream copy error: reading from a closed fifo” afterwards that I am wondering what they mean
avril 12 06:46:24 prosper systemd[1]: Stopping docker.service - Docker Application Container Engine...
avril 12 06:46:24 prosper dockerd[1580]: time="2024-04-12T06:46:24.161850246+02:00" level=info msg="Processing signal 'terminated'"
avril 12 06:46:33 prosper dockerd[1580]: time="2024-04-12T06:46:33.276053218+02:00" level=error msg="[resolver] failed to query external DNS server" client-addr="udp:127.0.0.1:37197" dns-server="udp:127.0.0.1:53" error="read udp 127.0.0.>
avril 12 06:46:34 prosper dockerd[1580]: time="2024-04-12T06:46:34.509762706+02:00" level=info msg="ignoring event" container=d518bb77113596e96db39a6770fd9955ec29efacd907cdb02148708e92156cd5 module=libcontainerd namespace=moby topic=/tas>
avril 12 06:46:34 prosper dockerd[1580]: time="2024-04-12T06:46:34.989217237+02:00" level=info msg="ignoring event" container=81b3413f7d2409fe1a8fd8e1cf7dce3a23a6f7a4dc7cc23c13e9f1ba84b24eb7 module=libcontainerd namespace=moby topic=/tas>
avril 12 06:46:34 prosper dockerd[1580]: time="2024-04-12T06:46:34.989312976+02:00" level=info msg="Container failed to exit within 10s of signal 15 - using the force" container=642a3c9a2c821727f30c5cf84aac52778c027083f61d571831a408a2a8c>
avril 12 06:46:34 prosper dockerd[1580]: time="2024-04-12T06:46:34.989126980+02:00" level=info msg="Container failed to exit within 10s of signal 15 - using the force" container=781a3eac3f08d78ef285bc0231c00bd52005fe2257fd358f7c2b51af392>
avril 12 06:46:34 prosper dockerd[1580]: time="2024-04-12T06:46:34.989532834+02:00" level=info msg="Container failed to exit within 10s of signal 15 - using the force" container=7406c47622ecf7fb3f9e9ff6b7a8be2a3920342b4921b33a32b3df45123>
avril 12 06:46:34 prosper dockerd[1580]: time="2024-04-12T06:46:34.989693081+02:00" level=info msg="Container failed to exit within 10s of signal 15 - using the force" container=e5311ad000d63615c2336db1d3630cde233495108029648289f3660ad2d>
avril 12 06:46:34 prosper dockerd[1580]: time="2024-04-12T06:46:34.989723995+02:00" level=info msg="Container failed to exit within 10s of signal 15 - using the force" container=e6194d95ed1b95dddeaacab68f64a8e869c7a2489144198a84865d57f89>
avril 12 06:46:35 prosper dockerd[1580]: time="2024-04-12T06:46:35.350637865+02:00" level=info msg="Container failed to exit within 10s of signal 15 - using the force" container=249922bad7603a6e00bbcb0528cb7b7774a321f23e9f81b9784cc5968b5>
avril 12 06:46:35 prosper dockerd[1580]: time="2024-04-12T06:46:35.506956200+02:00" level=info msg="ignoring event" container=a5ac3703480cbfd4455d4d0b373023f730da63a8792863e19bfda469ee44370b module=libcontainerd namespace=moby topic=/tas>
avril 12 06:46:35 prosper dockerd[1580]: time="2024-04-12T06:46:35.602466692+02:00" level=info msg="ignoring event" container=1bd974e7ccf8f77ed93b51aa9eb0bed07cd0e26db7201fecb33c5c6f82712cb2 module=libcontainerd namespace=moby topic=/tas>
avril 12 06:46:35 prosper dockerd[1580]: time="2024-04-12T06:46:35.661037905+02:00" level=info msg="ignoring event" container=881fbf5034c7c0016b0715a8028e2c69788ddff218bc70fef98b30019d2b48bd module=libcontainerd namespace=moby topic=/tas>
avril 12 06:46:35 prosper dockerd[1580]: time="2024-04-12T06:46:35.714184730+02:00" level=info msg="Container failed to exit within 10s of signal 15 - using the force" container=0d9862444b4a7fce35df527f034e4f673aecf44a6551858056f9d8c7ce4>
avril 12 06:46:35 prosper dockerd[1580]: time="2024-04-12T06:46:35.775230427+02:00" level=error msg="[resolver] failed to query external DNS server" client-addr="udp:127.0.0.1:42577" dns-server="udp:127.0.0.1:53" error="read udp 127.0.0.>
avril 12 06:46:35 prosper dockerd[1580]: time="2024-04-12T06:46:35.881449888+02:00" level=info msg="Container failed to exit within 10s of signal 2 - using the force" container=c0147e337cee407e7ab9b133bd20667d287d6e2e121259c4794e4e090b12>
avril 12 06:46:35 prosper dockerd[1580]: time="2024-04-12T06:46:35.893446715+02:00" level=info msg="Container failed to exit within 10s of signal 15 - using the force" container=0eecbecfcaa2639946f0ed4a61a36f6ef004453af793cab91a52a97724d>
avril 12 06:46:35 prosper dockerd[1580]: time="2024-04-12T06:46:35.987621257+02:00" level=info msg="Container failed to exit within 10s of signal 15 - using the force" container=3493720ae2fc565fdc052a1d137590818d418d290f4418ec6911cac4704>
avril 12 06:46:36 prosper dockerd[1580]: time="2024-04-12T06:46:36.186176914+02:00" level=info msg="Container failed to exit within 10s of signal 15 - using the force" container=5cee8cfa0e068dbda35e89bcaec19450b50a0903b13bd677f6a6cb61686>
avril 12 06:46:36 prosper dockerd[1580]: time="2024-04-12T06:46:36.186467614+02:00" level=error msg="stream copy error: reading from a closed fifo"
avril 12 06:46:36 prosper dockerd[1580]: time="2024-04-12T06:46:36.186476595+02:00" level=error msg="stream copy error: reading from a closed fifo"
avril 12 06:46:36 prosper dockerd[1580]: time="2024-04-12T06:46:36.214354986+02:00" level=info msg="ignoring event" container=e6194d95ed1b95dddeaacab68f64a8e869c7a2489144198a84865d57f8970a3f module=libcontainerd namespace=moby topic=/tas>
avril 12 06:46:36 prosper dockerd[1580]: time="2024-04-12T06:46:36.339111902+02:00" level=info msg="Container failed to exit within 10s of signal 15 - using the force" container=8f42101141cf634f3495ae850b368a4b00ce065fb9a401ab7e1450d532b>
avril 12 06:46:36 prosper dockerd[1580]: time="2024-04-12T06:46:36.484546249+02:00" level=info msg="Container failed to exit within 10s of signal 15 - using the force" container=881fbf5034c7c0016b0715a8028e2c69788ddff218bc70fef98b30019d2>
avril 12 06:46:36 prosper dockerd[1580]: time="2024-04-12T06:46:36.728059697+02:00" level=info msg="Container failed to exit within 10s of signal 15 - using the force" container=1bd974e7ccf8f77ed93b51aa9eb0bed07cd0e26db7201fecb33c5c6f827>
avril 12 06:46:36 prosper dockerd[1580]: time="2024-04-12T06:46:36.753403840+02:00" level=info msg="Container failed to exit within 10s of signal 15 - using the force" container=d518bb77113596e96db39a6770fd9955ec29efacd907cdb02148708e921>
avril 12 06:46:36 prosper dockerd[1580]: time="2024-04-12T06:46:36.787737744+02:00" level=info msg="Container failed to exit within 10s of signal 15 - using the force" container=c39c900cb5ccd9ae3d48be4f953389edcab7bf051b9d505e23a816a8627>
avril 12 06:46:37 prosper dockerd[1580]: time="2024-04-12T06:46:37.235834609+02:00" level=info msg="Container failed to exit within 10s of signal 15 - using the force" container=13a3101e56e66f045318ad572a19b259a8cd3fbe7772b82f9262c15b727>
avril 12 06:46:37 prosper dockerd[1580]: time="2024-04-12T06:46:37.331772840+02:00" level=info msg="Container failed to exit within 10s of signal 15 - using the force" container=a5ac3703480cbfd4455d4d0b373023f730da63a8792863e19bfda469ee4>
avril 12 06:46:37 prosper dockerd[1580]: time="2024-04-12T06:46:37.411877163+02:00" level=warning msg="Health check for container e6194d95ed1b95dddeaacab68f64a8e869c7a2489144198a84865d57f8970a3f error: context canceled"
avril 12 06:46:37 prosper dockerd[1580]: time="2024-04-12T06:46:37.705699519+02:00" level=error msg="[resolver] failed to query external DNS server" client-addr="udp:127.0.0.1:58293" dns-server="udp:127.0.0.1:53" error="read udp 127.0.0.>
avril 12 06:46:37 prosper dockerd[1580]: time="2024-04-12T06:46:37.748247132+02:00" level=info msg="Container failed to exit within 10s of signal 15 - using the force" container=81b3413f7d2409fe1a8fd8e1cf7dce3a23a6f7a4dc7cc23c13e9f1ba84b>
avril 12 06:46:37 prosper dockerd[1580]: time="2024-04-12T06:46:37.790571926+02:00" level=info msg="Container failed to exit within 10s of signal 15 - using the force" container=e6e82f5a61e3b412c93abdd7fcc1cf25560e7d8ae957313fd36429f3ed7>
avril 12 06:46:37 prosper dockerd[1580]: time="2024-04-12T06:46:37.811976559+02:00" level=info msg="Container failed to exit within 10s of signal 15 - using the force" container=48d78ba0c55912bd57f72c6934940ad173261364d13483e630769b670d0>
avril 12 06:46:37 prosper dockerd[1580]: time="2024-04-12T06:46:37.832092046+02:00" level=info msg="Container failed to exit within 10s of signal 15 - using the force" container=0c7717003531fe815060e60da13065abe8399782c750d526e7fba872f0e>
avril 12 06:46:37 prosper dockerd[1580]: time="2024-04-12T06:46:37.965233556+02:00" level=info msg="Container failed to exit within 10s of signal 15 - using the force" container=73b5051331f81477c6358d74e889fedf50bf0c57696fdd8a735e5a20f3b>
avril 12 06:46:37 prosper dockerd[1580]: time="2024-04-12T06:46:37.965447255+02:00" level=info msg="Container failed to exit within 10s of signal 15 - using the force" container=c73fda2593bbbeb66589373add0609f8a165eab6d3ef4f0fe9bc871b1ca>
avril 12 06:46:38 prosper dockerd[1580]: time="2024-04-12T06:46:38.094152959+02:00" level=info msg="ignoring event" container=0eecbecfcaa2639946f0ed4a61a36f6ef004453af793cab91a52a97724d5225f module=libcontainerd namespace=moby topic=/tas>
avril 12 06:46:38 prosper dockerd[1580]: time="2024-04-12T06:46:38.113626463+02:00" level=info msg="ignoring event" container=642a3c9a2c821727f30c5cf84aac52778c027083f61d571831a408a2a8c2c71f module=libcontainerd namespace=moby topic=/tas>
avril 12 06:46:38 prosper dockerd[1580]: time="2024-04-12T06:46:38.113684911+02:00" level=info msg="ignoring event" container=e5311ad000d63615c2336db1d3630cde233495108029648289f3660ad2d6c33a module=libcontainerd namespace=moby topic=/tas>
avril 12 06:46:38 prosper dockerd[1580]: time="2024-04-12T06:46:38.192923515+02:00" level=info msg="ignoring event" container=8f42101141cf634f3495ae850b368a4b00ce065fb9a401ab7e1450d532b917ba module=libcontainerd namespace=moby topic=/tas>
avril 12 06:46:38 prosper dockerd[1580]: time="2024-04-12T06:46:38.212691218+02:00" level=info msg="ignoring event" container=7406c47622ecf7fb3f9e9ff6b7a8be2a3920342b4921b33a32b3df45123878f2 module=libcontainerd namespace=moby topic=/tas>
avril 12 06:46:38 prosper dockerd[1580]: time="2024-04-12T06:46:38.282823538+02:00" level=info msg="Container failed to exit within 10s of signal 15 - using the force" container=a8be522903b221bd8af2b6bf0533b56bc828863852d17fa604ed932d8cd>
avril 12 06:46:38 prosper dockerd[1580]: time="2024-04-12T06:46:38.364351179+02:00" level=info msg="ignoring event" container=249922bad7603a6e00bbcb0528cb7b7774a321f23e9f81b9784cc5968b54ca54 module=libcontainerd namespace=moby topic=/tas>
avril 12 06:46:38 prosper dockerd[1580]: time="2024-04-12T06:46:38.433220060+02:00" level=info msg="ignoring event" container=0d9862444b4a7fce35df527f034e4f673aecf44a6551858056f9d8c7ce44dbd4 module=libcontainerd namespace=moby topic=/tas>
avril 12 06:46:38 prosper dockerd[1580]: time="2024-04-12T06:46:38.435651309+02:00" level=error msg="[resolver] failed to query external DNS server" client-addr="udp:127.0.0.1:59049" dns-server="udp:127.0.0.1:53" error="read udp 127.0.0.>
avril 12 06:46:38 prosper dockerd[1580]: time="2024-04-12T06:46:38.503015026+02:00" level=info msg="Container failed to exit within 10s of signal 15 - using the force" container=6c0fcacc03cef94239fadb71e55ded7b01d07ed075023966427072d480a>
avril 12 06:46:38 prosper dockerd[1580]: time="2024-04-12T06:46:38.531879355+02:00" level=info msg="Container failed to exit within 10s of signal 28 - using the force" container=6290112ab909221f1d3eee48a09e49403c1f61b7e1675ab3e581649ea82>
avril 12 06:46:38 prosper dockerd[1580]: time="2024-04-12T06:46:38.789853647+02:00" level=info msg="Container failed to exit within 10s of signal 28 - using the force" container=89d8e915dc9ab961502830d0f8086d1a4b709d726d69e6d26570463219a>
avril 12 06:46:38 prosper dockerd[1580]: time="2024-04-12T06:46:38.928854916+02:00" level=info msg="ignoring event" container=5cee8cfa0e068dbda35e89bcaec19450b50a0903b13bd677f6a6cb6168675d21 module=libcontainerd namespace=moby topic=/tas>
avril 12 06:46:39 prosper dockerd[1580]: time="2024-04-12T06:46:39.089539561+02:00" level=info msg="Container failed to exit within 10s of signal 15 - using the force" container=b52727b63c13631c15b7b22d400f2c913ae73a2f5b36b0f566bef0ba645>
avril 12 06:46:39 prosper dockerd[1580]: time="2024-04-12T06:46:39.202791198+02:00" level=info msg="Container failed to exit within 10s of signal 15 - using the force" container=deda565519df8cd8705fff76564af4a084514fea41fe03ca1ab7e56f14b>
avril 12 06:46:39 prosper dockerd[1580]: time="2024-04-12T06:46:39.290584165+02:00" level=error msg="Force shutdown daemon"
avril 12 06:46:39 prosper dockerd[1580]: time="2024-04-12T06:46:39.567930258+02:00" level=info msg="Container failed to exit within 10s of signal 15 - using the force" container=c813f03c24c960653e28a9857a5d7f1fde677bcd3e226ed1585d41626a9>
avril 12 06:46:39 prosper dockerd[1580]: time="2024-04-12T06:46:39.725804932+02:00" level=info msg="Daemon shutdown complete"
avril 12 06:46:42 prosper systemd[1]: docker.service: Deactivated successfully.
avril 12 06:46:42 prosper systemd[1]: docker.service: Unit process 15700 (docker-proxy) remains running after unit stopped.
avril 12 06:46:42 prosper systemd[1]: docker.service: Unit process 15979 (docker-proxy) remains running after unit stopped.
avril 12 06:46:42 prosper systemd[1]: docker.service: Unit process 18294 (docker-proxy) remains running after unit stopped.
avril 12 06:46:42 prosper systemd[1]: Stopped docker.service - Docker Application Container Engine.
avril 12 06:46:42 prosper systemd[1]: docker.service: Consumed 3h 16min 43.639s CPU time.
avril 12 06:46:42 prosper systemd[1]: docker.service: Found left-over process 15700 (docker-proxy) in control group while starting unit. Ignoring.
avril 12 06:46:42 prosper systemd[1]: This usually indicates unclean termination of a previous run, or service implementation deficiencies.
avril 12 06:46:42 prosper systemd[1]: docker.service: Found left-over process 15979 (docker-proxy) in control group while starting unit. Ignoring.
avril 12 06:46:42 prosper systemd[1]: This usually indicates unclean termination of a previous run, or service implementation deficiencies.
avril 12 06:46:42 prosper systemd[1]: docker.service: Found left-over process 18294 (docker-proxy) in control group while starting unit. Ignoring.
avril 12 06:46:42 prosper systemd[1]: This usually indicates unclean termination of a previous run, or service implementation deficiencies.
avril 12 06:46:42 prosper systemd[1]: Starting docker.service - Docker Application Container Engine...
avril 12 06:46:44 prosper dockerd[276530]: time="2024-04-12T06:46:44.366430751+02:00" level=info msg="Starting up"
avril 12 06:46:45 prosper dockerd[276530]: time="2024-04-12T06:46:45.443488954+02:00" level=info msg="[graphdriver] using prior storage driver: overlay2"
avril 12 06:46:57 prosper dockerd[276530]: time="2024-04-12T06:46:57.117503878+02:00" level=info msg="Loading containers: start."
avril 12 06:46:58 prosper dockerd[276530]: time="2024-04-12T06:46:58.071827546+02:00" level=error msg="stream copy error: reading from a closed fifo"
avril 12 06:46:58 prosper dockerd[276530]: time="2024-04-12T06:46:58.074049075+02:00" level=error msg="stream copy error: reading from a closed fifo"
avril 12 06:46:58 prosper dockerd[276530]: time="2024-04-12T06:46:58.077609642+02:00" level=error msg="stream copy error: reading from a closed fifo"
avril 12 06:46:58 prosper dockerd[276530]: time="2024-04-12T06:46:58.077684622+02:00" level=error msg="stream copy error: reading from a closed fifo"
avril 12 06:46:58 prosper dockerd[276530]: time="2024-04-12T06:46:58.082780007+02:00" level=error msg="stream copy error: reading from a closed fifo"
avril 12 06:46:58 prosper dockerd[276530]: time="2024-04-12T06:46:58.084236865+02:00" level=error msg="stream copy error: reading from a closed fifo"
avril 12 06:46:58 prosper dockerd[276530]: time="2024-04-12T06:46:58.088120145+02:00" level=error msg="stream copy error: reading from a closed fifo"
avril 12 06:46:58 prosper dockerd[276530]: time="2024-04-12T06:46:58.088249509+02:00" level=error msg="stream copy error: reading from a closed fifo"
avril 12 06:46:58 prosper dockerd[276530]: time="2024-04-12T06:46:58.168036186+02:00" level=error msg="stream copy error: reading from a closed fifo"
avril 12 06:46:58 prosper dockerd[276530]: time="2024-04-12T06:46:58.168083531+02:00" level=error msg="stream copy error: reading from a closed fifo"
avril 12 06:46:58 prosper dockerd[276530]: time="2024-04-12T06:46:58.169898516+02:00" level=error msg="stream copy error: reading from a closed fifo"
avril 12 06:46:58 prosper dockerd[276530]: time="2024-04-12T06:46:58.171988424+02:00" level=error msg="stream copy error: reading from a closed fifo"
avril 12 06:46:58 prosper dockerd[276530]: time="2024-04-12T06:46:58.172240688+02:00" level=error msg="stream copy error: reading from a closed fifo"
avril 12 06:46:58 prosper dockerd[276530]: time="2024-04-12T06:46:58.172348881+02:00" level=error msg="stream copy error: reading from a closed fifo"
avril 12 06:46:58 prosper dockerd[276530]: time="2024-04-12T06:46:58.173855919+02:00" level=error msg="stream copy error: reading from a closed fifo"
avril 12 06:46:58 prosper dockerd[276530]: time="2024-04-12T06:46:58.176585486+02:00" level=error msg="stream copy error: reading from a closed fifo"
avril 12 06:46:58 prosper dockerd[276530]: time="2024-04-12T06:46:58.178804059+02:00" level=info msg="ignoring event" container=781a3eac3f08d78ef285bc0231c00bd52005fe2257fd358f7c2b51af39266c42 module=libcontainerd namespace=moby topic=/t>
avril 12 06:46:58 prosper dockerd[276530]: time="2024-04-12T06:46:58.180166037+02:00" level=error msg="stream copy error: reading from a closed fifo"
avril 12 06:46:58 prosper dockerd[276530]: time="2024-04-12T06:46:58.185876045+02:00" level=error msg="stream copy error: reading from a closed fifo"
avril 12 06:46:58 prosper dockerd[276530]: time="2024-04-12T06:46:58.270156961+02:00" level=error msg="stream copy error: reading from a closed fifo"
avril 12 06:46:58 prosper dockerd[276530]: time="2024-04-12T06:46:58.270186688+02:00" level=error msg="stream copy error: reading from a closed fifo"
avril 12 06:46:58 prosper dockerd[276530]: time="2024-04-12T06:46:58.281083861+02:00" level=info msg="ignoring event" container=89d8e915dc9ab961502830d0f8086d1a4b709d726d69e6d26570463219a620f1 module=libcontainerd namespace=moby topic=/t>
avril 12 06:46:58 prosper dockerd[276530]: time="2024-04-12T06:46:58.282779586+02:00" level=info msg="ignoring event" container=6290112ab909221f1d3eee48a09e49403c1f61b7e1675ab3e581649ea829ad0f module=libcontainerd namespace=moby topic=/t>
avril 12 06:46:58 prosper dockerd[276530]: time="2024-04-12T06:46:58.298497572+02:00" level=info msg="ignoring event" container=b52727b63c13631c15b7b22d400f2c913ae73a2f5b36b0f566bef0ba645e7c0f module=libcontainerd namespace=moby topic=/t>
avril 12 06:46:58 prosper dockerd[276530]: time="2024-04-12T06:46:58.316205371+02:00" level=info msg="ignoring event" container=c73fda2593bbbeb66589373add0609f8a165eab6d3ef4f0fe9bc871b1ca315a7 module=libcontainerd namespace=moby topic=/t>
avril 12 06:46:58 prosper dockerd[276530]: time="2024-04-12T06:46:58.316278998+02:00" level=info msg="ignoring event" container=3493720ae2fc565fdc052a1d137590818d418d290f4418ec6911cac4704eb7e8 module=libcontainerd namespace=moby topic=/t>
avril 12 06:46:58 prosper dockerd[276530]: time="2024-04-12T06:46:58.341300109+02:00" level=error msg="stream copy error: reading from a closed fifo"
avril 12 06:46:58 prosper dockerd[276530]: time="2024-04-12T06:46:58.341872295+02:00" level=error msg="stream copy error: reading from a closed fifo"
avril 12 06:46:58 prosper dockerd[276530]: time="2024-04-12T06:46:58.370180971+02:00" level=info msg="ignoring event" container=6c0fcacc03cef94239fadb71e55ded7b01d07ed075023966427072d480ab42f7 module=libcontainerd namespace=moby topic=/t>
avril 12 06:46:58 prosper dockerd[276530]: time="2024-04-12T06:46:58.382180381+02:00" level=info msg="ignoring event" container=c0147e337cee407e7ab9b133bd20667d287d6e2e121259c4794e4e090b123e11 module=libcontainerd namespace=moby topic=/t>
avril 12 06:46:58 prosper dockerd[276530]: time="2024-04-12T06:46:58.436201339+02:00" level=error msg="stream copy error: reading from a closed fifo"
avril 12 06:46:58 prosper dockerd[276530]: time="2024-04-12T06:46:58.436352997+02:00" level=error msg="stream copy error: reading from a closed fifo"

I ssh’ed into the server and noticed that the pi-hole & dnsmasq containers were not running. I ran docker compose up -d in all projects, starting with the DNS one and it went back to normal.

My question is: how bad of an idea is this to run a DNS in docker and use it for the host and other containers? Maybe I just had back luck but I can’t help thinking this setup creates some sort of circular dependency between the host, docker and the containers.

If anyone has experience with a similar setup, I’d be curious to hear their opinion on the issue I ran into.

Thanks!

  • daddy32@lemmy.worldEnglish
    3·
    7 months ago

    Oh my, TIL. But what then in cases like these, when the Pihole itself is down? You need fallback…

    • AtariDump@lemmy.worldEnglish
      3·
      7 months ago

      You need another DNS server. Fallback implies that it’s only there if the first stops responding, which isn’t how DNS works.

      • fendrax@jlai.luOPEnglish
        1·
        7 months ago

        For some reason, I am only seeing this comment thread now, so sorry for the late response.

        Thanks for those valuable details. But I am still a bit confused. I understand why you are saying that pi hole should be the only DNS server handling requests sent by LAN devices (including the machine hosting the DNS). That’s because it is the only one which can resolve local names (well, that’s actually its upstream dnsmasq running as a sibling container that does that but that’s a minor detail).

        But then you say there should be another DNS server to solve my problem. If I put two server entries in /etc/resolv.conf, one being pi hole and the other my ISP’s DNS, the two of them will be randomly picked by DNS clients. When the ISP’s is used, it will fail to translate local names. I guess there is a way to let the client try the other server after a failure but it will add some undesirable latency.

        Sorry if I misunderstood your point but after reading the first comments I was quite convinced by the idea of adding a second nameserver entry in /etc/resolv.conf. Your explanations convinced me otherwise and now I have the impression that I can’t really solve my initial problem in a reliable way.

          • fendrax@jlai.luOPEnglish
            2·
            7 months ago

            My goodness, that’s some impressive responsiveness ^^

            I guess see your point. But then the problem shifts to the upstream dnsmasq instance which acts as DHCP + DNS for the local devices. This is the server ultimately able to translate local names.

            I don’t think it’s doable to have two instances of dnsmasq that are able to translate local names interchangeably. That would require two DHCPs to have authority on the network. But I’m no expert so I may be missing something obvious.

            • AtariDump@lemmy.worldEnglish
              1·
              7 months ago

              You only set one DHCP server. DHCP hands out both PiHoles as DNS servers on the network.

              Name resolution is handled by DNS and not DHCP.

              • fendrax@jlai.luOPEnglish
                1·
                7 months ago

                Sorry, I was unclear: I use dnsmasq as single source of truth. In its DHCP config, I set machine names, routes and all. And this is because this dnsmasq is the DHCP that it knows how to translate the names of the devices it configured. Pi-hole forwards all DNS requests to dnsmasq. Now if I use two instances of dnsmasq, only one can be a DHCP and the other won’t know how to resolve local names, unless it uses the first dnsmasq as upstream. But in scenarios where this first dnsmasq instance is down, we are back to square one.

                • fendrax@jlai.luOPEnglish
                  21·
                  7 months ago

                  I had a quick look at resolv.conf’s manpage on Debian and I think @daddy32@lemmy.world’s suggestion of adding a second nameserver would actually work:

                  nameserver Name server IP address
    Internet  address  of a name server that the resolver should query, either an IPv4 address (in dot notation), or an IPv6 address in colon (and possibly dot) notation as per RFC 2373.  Up to MAXNS (currently 3, see ) name servers may be listed, one per keyword.  If there are multiple servers, the resolver library queries them in the order listed.  If no nameserver entries are present, the default is to use the name  server
    on  the  local  machine.   (The algorithm used is to try a name server, and if the query times out, try the next, until out of name servers, then repeat trying all the name servers until a maximum number of retries are
    made.)

                  According to the doc, the resolver will try each name server in order until one is successful.

                  • AtariDump@lemmy.worldEnglish
                    1·
                    7 months ago

                    …if the query times out, try the next, until out of name servers, then repeat trying all the name servers until a maximum number of retries are made.)

                    Queries are going to time out and fall over to the other DNS server.