This repository documents the process I followed to rebuild and configure my home network. The core of this project involved flashing OpenWrt on my Google Nest routers, setting up a self-hosted DNS server, and improving my network’s privacy, security, and performance.
I followed the official OpenWrt guide for flashing Google WiFi devices: https://openwrt.org/toh/google/wifi. The repo includes notes on the flashing process, configuration adjustments, troubleshooting, and lessons learned along the way.
In addition to router configuration, I built a local DNS filtering system running on a Raspberry Pi 3B+ using Docker. The Pi-hole DNS server filters out ads, trackers, and malware domains, giving me complete control over name resolution within my network.
- Distance myself from the Google ecosystem
- Increase privacy by avoiding reliance on proprietary software
- Learn how to flash and configure custom firmware
- Gain practical experience with Docker and self-hosting
- Strengthen network-wide security and content filtering
- Take complete ownership of my home network environment
- Flashed Google Nest routers with OpenWrt
- Configured a Raspberry Pi 3B+ as a Pi-hole DNS server with Docker
- Local DNS filtering for ads, trackers, and malware
- Documented setup steps, challenges, and troubleshooting tips
- Redesigned home network from the ground up for reliability and control