>I'd like to use a free (libre) DNS service and found nsupdate.info just because I really value the idea of FLOSS and data privacy.
Pick a DNS server you would like to use, and enter this as Custom DNS servers in Admin GUI > Settings > DNS > Upstream DNS servers.
>then they provided a footnote about downloading root hint files which pretty much left me stranded in the process.
This is two steps of the guide. The first step gets the root hints file and stores it in the current directory on the Pi. The next step moves it to the correct location on the Pi.
wget -O root.hints https://www.internic.net/domain/named.root sudo mv root.hints /var/lib/unbound/
Not exactly true. A person can't access today's Internet without one. Especially Ipv6. Sure we could make something to hold all the IP addresses and store them locally, but then that would have to be updated all the time for billions of machines.
On that point, one should NEVER use their ISP DNSs...
There are better options, and usually faster options. Like nsupdate or opennic
You need a DNS service. You could buy your own domain name
eg https://www.namecheap.com/ or www.domain.com/
or sign up to a free dynamic dns provider eg www.noip.com/ or https://nsupdate.info/
In booth cases you then run a software on your computer that notifies the dns of IP changea. Edit. Some routers support updating to a dynamic dns service to.
The domain urown.cloud is mine and I made it available for free to use with the dynamic DNS service from nsupdate.info.
nsupdate.info is a dynamic DNS service which is simple, usable, free, friendly, secure and respects your privacy.
Rpi is very cheap on electricity so no worries, vpn + nas probably yes but we should measure performance, its not only that , the key of the thing I guess its that probable at home you dont have an static IP address , you you will have to look for a DDNS ( dynamic dns) I made the same project one with nsupdate.info check it out!
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Would I need Dyn's $60 DNS thing? On Dyn specifically, the domain name is $15/ year, but their DNS standard feature is $60/year.
Also, would something like https://nsupdate.info/ work (it sounds pretty spot-on to what I'm looking for)?