Visitor

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3 Messages

Friday, September 12th, 2025

DNS server question

Hi there, 

I have a question regarding Comcast DNS server addresses: When looking in the Xfinity Network section of my rented XB8-Techicolor the IPV4 DNS primary server 1 is 75.75.75.75 and the IPV4 DNS secondary server is 75.75.76.76. The IPV6 DNS primary server is 2001:558:feed::1 and the secondary IPV6 address is 2001:558:feed::2  .

Out of curiosity I did a 'what's my DNS server test' and it gave a different result. It showed my IPV4 DNS servers were 76.96.24.1,  76.96.24.3, 76.96.24.21, and 76.96.24.7 . It showed my IPV6 DNS addresses were 2001:558:fee0:8320:76:96:24:3 , and 2001:558:fee0:8320:76:96:24:1 . All of the addresses shows as located in Ashburn, USA.

Why would there be a difference like this? Thanks in advance!

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Gold Problem Solver

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26.8K Messages

29 days ago

The addresses in your first paragraph are Anycast addresses (see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anycast). Anycast is basically a method for steering requests to to the "closest" server. The addresses of the actual DNS servers are the ones in your second paragraph. It looks odd, but it's normal for Anycast routing.

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(edited)

Visitor

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3 Messages

Hi Bruce,

Thanks for your reply. Should it be routing all the way to Virginia if I live in Mississippi?

Official Employee

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249 Messages

27 days ago

Good morning @user_3b9548, I hope you are having a good weekend. Many routers have a built-in DNS server (sometimes named dnsmasq) that caches DNS requests. When your devices query the DNS server listed for them, they are actually querying your router's IP address, which then forwards the request to the primary/secondary DNS servers that your router is configured to use. 

Expert

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113.9K Messages

27 days ago

@XfinityJeff 

While that is true for most models, a router that is doing DNS relay / forwarding of the DNS IP addresses are typically the private / non-routable IP address of the gateway (192.168.xxx or 10.0.0.x). The poster's DNS IP addresses that are being shown being shown are public / routable IP addresses that belong to Comcast.

(edited)

Visitor

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3 Messages

Hi EG,

Thanks for replying. Is it normal for my xb8 gateway to be doing DNS relay/forwarding to other Comcast addresses like is happening?

(edited)

Official Employee

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2.5K Messages

After doing research, yes, this appears to be a normal function. It sounds like you are being redirected to Comcast servers. We do this for the security of our network. If you require the ability to make changes to your DNS settings, you may need to consider using your own modem and router.

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