Strange behavior trying to get to t-mobile.com

[ghostagent]

I'm seeing an error below while trying to resolve to t-mobile.com or (www.t-mobile.com) on the router -> network tools-> nslookup. I've played with using comcast DNS server as well as the google DNS server of 8.8.8.8 with the same result. Is there something built into the router that's causing that? I've flashed to firmware "380.69_2" and this is rather strange. tried forcing my laptop to use 8.8.8.8 as DNS server and it clearly resolves t-mobile.com so the only culprit is the router itself. I'm scratching my head as if this a known thing or a joke of sorts.

Server: 127.0.0.1
Address 1: 127.0.0.1 localhost.localdomain

nslookup: can't resolve 't-mobile.com'

 

[ghostagent]

think i see what's going on, the search domain for 192.168.0.1 (router) is set to t-mobile.com.. could that be it??

question is how do i change that? it was a flashed tmobile ac1900 router

 

[martinr]

Do you know if the router was reset to factory default settings AFTER the Merlin firmware was flashed?

 

[martinr]

....... I've played with using comcast DNS server as well as the google DNS server of 8.8.8.8 .....'

What do you mean by “I’ve played....,”?

Do you mean on the WAN page in the router’s GUI? What are your WAN DNS settings? Is DNS Filtering activated in Parental Controls?

From what you’ve said so far, I still think the factory reset question is the most relevant.

 

[ghostagent]

Do you know if the router was reset to factory default settings AFTER the Merlin firmware was flashed?

I don't recall. I followed the instructions to essentially root the ac-1900 back to factory setting and then flashed it with merlin per these instructions (https://slickdeals.net/forums/showpost.php?p=92917711&postcount=2778,)
Don't think there was another step of factory reset afterwards.

was there a setting for t-mobile.com?

 

[ghostagent]

What do you mean by “I’ve played....,”?

Do you mean on the WAN page in the router’s GUI? What are your WAN DNS settings? Is DNS Filtering activated in Parental Controls?

From what you’ve said so far, I still think the factory reset question is the most relevant.

played = tried to plug in google DNS in router WAN GUI page. have tried both "connect to DNS server automatically" and manually set DNS server of 8.8.8.8 settings. I don't see options for DNS Filtering and Parental controls. Where are they located?


edit: found those settings under AiProtection. they are both off

 

[martinr]

Factory resetting BEFORE flashing serves no purpose (though some people do it as part of their personal procedure), but factory resetting, if it’s to be done for whatever reason, can only be done AFTER flashing if it is to wipe everything and achieve its purpose.

To solve your problem, I believe you now have to factory reset and res-enter your personal setting manually.

 

[ghostagent]

so a basic factory reset will solve the problem? so is the search domain the issue?

 

[martinr]

so a basic factory reset will solve the problem? so is the search domain the issue?

I can’t promise it will but here’s my thinking: you seem to have proved that the problem is in the router, not that that is a surprise because you said it was a T Mobile AC1900. So some vestige if its previous incarnation remains in memory, which, had a proper factory reset been carried out (AFTER flashing), would have been erased. Plus your having said that the factory reset was carried out before flashing, all points to an imperfect setup with elements of its previous settings remaining.

Also, a factory reset and manual input of your settings is also a good exercise in gaining familiarity with all the various pages in the GUI.

So I’m quite confident it will fix your problem and you will also have the satisfaction of knowing that it’s properly set up. Let us know how you get on.

 

[ghostagent]

thanks for the help.

factory flash did it. the only difference is that i no longer see a search domain of t-mobile.com for the local DNS server (router IP).

I wonder where that is even set? I don't see it in any of the merlin configs so it must on one of the system config files.