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DNS and NTP Servers

1 min read

🌍 Which DNS servers should I use? #

Using our default DNS settings is generally the best option: Atomic and Quad9. Your router should learn these via DHCP or PPPoE.

Primary: Atomic’s on-net anycast caching DNS servers. This is hosted on two different physical servers for redundancy, and your DNS traffic will automatically route to the closest one depending on which FNO you are using.

Secondary: Quad9, hosted at CINX – about 1ms away from the Atomic network.

4️⃣ IPv4

  • 102.135.240.1
  • 9.9.9.9

6️⃣ IPv6

  • 2c0f:ef18::1
  • 2620:fe::9

You can also configure custom DNS servers. Popular options are:

  • 1.1.1.1 Cloudflare / CPT
  • 8.8.8.8 Google / JHB

We suggest Quad9 over Cloudflare because of the cached content at CINX and NAP CPT (internet exchanges in Cape Town). Some CDNs steer traffic based on where the DNS request comes from.

⚠️ We do not offer a DDNS (dynamic DNS) service.

🤓 Troubleshooting links #

These links can help you find out which content cache is being used. Often cache selection is done based on the DNS servers you are using.

🏠 Family DNS #

We also offer DNS servers which have adult content filtering enabled and block ad trackers. Have a look at our Atomic Family DNS page.

⏰ NTP / Time Servers #

Atomic operates a Stratum-2 anycast NTP service at: ntp.atomic.ac (v4 and v6)

Add the following NTP servers hosted in Cape Town. Ping them to be sure they are in Cape Town.

  • ntp.atomic.ac – Stratum-2 – Atomic – should have the lowest latency
  • ntp2.inx.net.za – Stratum-2 – CINX
  • ntp5.inx.net.za – Stratum-2 – CINX
  • ntp2.nog.net.za – Stratum-2 – CINX
  • ntp2.as3741.net – Stratum-2 – NAP CPT
  • time1.facebook.com – Stratum-1 – NAP CPT
  • ntp.cpt.nap.africa – Stratum-1 – NAP CPT