HillmanTok University - Guerilla Networking
Lesson Plan for Instructional Video: Configuring Pi-hole
Objective:
By the end of this video, viewers will:
Understand what Pi-hole is and its benefits.
Be able to install and configure Pi-hole on their network.
Gain a basic understanding of DNS and how Pi-hole enhances network privacy and performance.
Target Audience:
Beginners to intermediate users with basic familiarity with home networking.
Individuals interested in improving network privacy and blocking ads.
Lesson Structure:
- Introduction (2 minutes)
What is Pi-hole?
Brief description: Pi-hole is a network-wide ad blocker.
Benefits: Blocks ads at the network level, enhances privacy, speeds up browsing, reduces bandwidth usage.
Prerequisites:
A Raspberry Pi (or compatible device) with a power supply and storage (microSD card).
Basic familiarity with connecting to a router.
- Setting Up Pi-hole (10 minutes)
a. Hardware Preparation (2 minutes):
Overview of hardware requirements:
Raspberry Pi model (e.g., Raspberry Pi 4 or 3).
Network connection: Ethernet or Wi-Fi.
Demonstrate:
Formatting the microSD card using tools like Balena Etcher.
Flashing Raspberry Pi OS onto the card.
b. Software Installation (4 minutes):
Boot up the Raspberry Pi and access the terminal.
Explain the commands step-by-step:
curl -sSL https://install.pi-hole.net |
bash |
What the command does (downloading and executing the installation script).
Follow the prompts:
Select the network interface (Ethernet or Wi-Fi).
Choose the upstream DNS provider (e.g., Google, OpenDNS).
Configure the web interface.
c. Post-Installation Configuration (4 minutes):
Access the Pi-hole admin dashboard:
Open a browser and go to http:///admin.
Login with the admin password provided during installation.
Demonstrate:
Adding custom blocklists.
Whitelisting/blacklisting domains.
Monitoring blocked queries.
- Integrating Pi-hole with Your Network (6 minutes)
a. Configuring the Router (3 minutes):
Explain how to find the router’s admin interface (e.g., 192.168.1.1).
Show:
How to set the router’s DNS server to Pi-hole’s IP address.
(Optional) Setting a static IP for Pi-hole on the router.
b. Device-Specific DNS Settings (3 minutes):
Show how to configure individual devices (e.g., smartphone, computer) to use Pi-hole as their DNS server if router-level configuration isn’t possible.
- Advanced Features & Troubleshooting (5 minutes)
a. Features (3 minutes):
Setting up conditional forwarding for local network names.
Using Pi-hole with a VPN for remote ad-blocking.
b. Common Issues & Fixes (2 minutes):
Devices not connecting to the internet: Check DNS settings.
Pi-hole not blocking ads: Verify blocklist settings and DNS propagation.
Tools to test DNS:
nslookup or ping commands.
- Wrap-Up (2 minutes)
Recap:
What Pi-hole does.
Key steps in installation and configuration.
Encourage viewers:
Experiment with additional blocklists and settings.
Join the Pi-hole community for support.
Share links to resources:
Official Pi-hole documentation.
Recommended blocklist repositories.
Materials Needed:
Raspberry Pi and necessary peripherals.
WHERE TO BUY
- adafruit.com https://www.adafruit.com/product/6008
- pishop.us https://www.pishop.us/product/raspberry-pi-zero-2-w/?src=raspberrypi
Amazon is available but NOT recommended, as there is a significant price markup.
Optional
heatsink (to help with heat dispersion)
A computer for setup.
Access to a home router.
Tools like Balena Etcher, SSH client, and Pi-hole documentation links.
Pro Tips for Video Presentation:
Use clear visuals: screen recordings for terminal and dashboard walkthroughs.
Keep explanations concise and use diagrams for concepts like DNS.
Include a “troubleshooting” FAQ at the end to address common questions.
Use captions or callouts to highlight critical steps and commands.
This structured plan should help create a comprehensive, engaging instructional video for new Pi-hole users!
DeepSeek
Absolutely! Creating an instructional video for beginners is a great idea. Below is a detailed lesson plan for your video on configuring Pi-hole. The goal is to make it accessible, engaging, and easy to follow for people who are new to networking and tech.
Lesson Plan: Configuring Pi-hole for Beginners
1. Introduction (2-3 minutes)
- What is Pi-hole?
- Explain Pi-hole in simple terms: “A network-wide ad blocker that works at the DNS level.”
- Mention its benefits: blocks ads, improves privacy, and speeds up browsing.
- Who is this for?
- Clarify that Pi-hole is for anyone who wants to improve their home network, even if they’re not tech-savvy.
- What will viewers learn?
- Briefly outline the steps: setting up Pi-hole on a Raspberry Pi (or other device), configuring it, and connecting it to your network.
2. What You’ll Need (2-3 minutes)
- Hardware:
- [Raspberry Pi][https://www.pishop.us/product-category/raspberry-pi/raspberry-pi-boards/current-pi-boards/] (any model, but recommend Pi 4 for beginners).
- MicroSD card (8GB or larger).
- Power supply for the Raspberry Pi.
- Ethernet cable (for a wired connection).
- Software:
- Raspberry Pi Imager (to install the OS).
- Pi-hole software (we’ll install this during the tutorial).
- Optional:
- A case for the Raspberry Pi.
- A monitor, keyboard, and mouse for initial setup (or use headless setup via SSH).
3. Setting Up the Raspberry Pi (5-7 minutes)
- Step 1: Install the Operating System
- Show how to use Raspberry Pi Imager to install Raspberry Pi OS Lite (headless version).
- Explain how to enable SSH for remote access.
- Step 2: Boot Up the Raspberry Pi
- Connect the Raspberry Pi to power, Ethernet, and (if needed) a monitor.
- Log in via SSH or directly using a monitor.
- Step 3: Update the System
- Run
sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade
to ensure the system is up to date.
4. Installing Pi-hole (5-7 minutes)
- Step 1: Download and Install Pi-hole
- Run the Pi-hole installation command:
curl -sSL https://install.pi-hole.net | bash
- Walk through the installation prompts:
- Choose an upstream DNS provider (e.g., Google DNS, Cloudflare).
- Enable the web admin interface.
- Set a password for the admin interface.
- Step 2: Note the IP Address
- Show how to find the Raspberry Pi’s IP address using
hostname -I
.
- Explain that this IP will be used to access the Pi-hole admin interface.
5. Configuring Your Network to Use Pi-hole (5-7 minutes)
- Option 1: Configure Your Router
- Explain how to set the Raspberry Pi’s IP as the primary DNS server in your router settings.
- Show an example of accessing a router’s admin page (e.g., 192.168.1.1).
- Option 2: Configure Individual Devices
- Show how to manually set the DNS server on a computer or smartphone to the Raspberry Pi’s IP.
- Test the Setup
- Visit a website with ads to confirm Pi-hole is blocking them.
- Check the Pi-hole admin dashboard to see blocked queries.
6. Exploring the Pi-hole Admin Interface (5 minutes)
- Overview of the Dashboard
- Show the main features: blocked queries, allowed queries, and query log.
- Adding Whitelists and Blacklists
- Explain how to whitelist a domain (e.g., if a site breaks due to ad blocking).
- Show how to add custom blocklists.
- Changing Settings
- Briefly cover settings like DHCP, DNS, and privacy options.
7. Troubleshooting Tips (3-5 minutes)
- Common Issues:
- Pi-hole not blocking ads: Check if the DNS settings are correct.
- Slow internet: Ensure the Raspberry Pi is connected via Ethernet.
- Forgot admin password: Show how to reset it via the command line.
- Where to Get Help:
- Pi-hole documentation, forums, and Reddit communities.
8. Conclusion and Next Steps (2-3 minutes)
- Recap:
- Summarize what was covered: setting up Pi-hole, configuring the network, and using the admin interface.
- Encourage Experimentation:
- Suggest exploring advanced features like custom blocklists or integrating with other tools.
- Call to Action:
- Ask viewers to like, comment, and subscribe for more tutorials.
- Provide links to resources (Pi-hole documentation, recommended blocklists, etc.).
Tips for the Video
- Keep it Visual:
- Use screen recordings for command-line steps and on-screen annotations to highlight important details.
- Speak Clearly and Slowly:
- Avoid jargon and explain technical terms when necessary.
- Provide Timestamps:
- Add chapters to the video so viewers can easily navigate to specific sections.
- Include Links in the Description:
- Share links to the Pi-hole website, Raspberry Pi Imager, and any tools or resources mentioned.
This lesson plan should help you create a comprehensive and beginner-friendly video. Let me know if you’d like help with scripting or additional details!