Overriding connections (VPN) that abuse DNS (was: Wireless DHCP overwrites DNS settings)

[Ross Patterson <me rpatterson net>]

This is somewhat related.  I have a poorly behaved VPN connection that
sends NM empty DNS settings so that no DNS works when I'm connected to
the VPN.  I can't fix the VPN, so my current workaround is to copy
/etc/resolv.conf before I connect to the VPN, and then write it over the
/etc/resolv.conf written by NM *after* connecting to the VPN.  IOW, I
manually restore the original DNS configuration.  This is annoying to
say the least.

My question is, is there a way to preseve the DNS settings on *just
that* VPN connection so I don't have to do this dance every time?

Ross

Jason Martens <me jasonmartens com> writes:

> On Wed, 2007-10-31 at 20:22 -0400, Darren Albers wrote:
>> On 10/31/07, Jason Martens <me jasonmartens com> wrote:
>> > I'm still having the problem where my DNS settings are overwritten
>> > by the wireless connection, even though I am still connected to the
>> > VPN.  Attached is the syslog output.  Note, I'm on Ubuntu Gutsy
>> > now, but I had the same problem on Debian Lenny about 2 weeks ago.
>> >
>> > Jason
>> >
>>
>> As Sourav pointed out setting your nameservers via the
>> NetworkSettings tab will be overwritten by NM since the applications
>> are not aware of each other.  If you want to hardcode a DNS server
>> you should do it in dhclient.conf
>
> I didn't change my nameservers.  *Something* is changing them while
> I'm still connected to my VPN, which means that I can't access
> anything via DNS after about 15 minutes of being connected.  I either
> have to disconnect the VPN, or manually change the resolv.conf back to
> the proper settings for my VPN connection (which will get overwritten
> again in 15 minutes).  Annoying, to say the least.
>
> Jason