Home Networking Setup with Raspberry Pi: Pi-hole, Unbound & PiVPN

I've always been interested in tech, first through gaming, then learning about computer hardware. In high school, I was lucky enough to take a computer class and join an after school program that taught me about all the components inside a PC and gave me hands-on experience building, disassembling, and troubleshooting computers (shout out to Mr. Utities!). In my first semester of college I learned the basics of networking, but decided to focus on software development instead and never really explored home networking in depth.

That changed recently when I decided to finally put my Raspberry Pi to good use. I had heard about Pi-hole before but never researched in depth. Once I did, I decided to take the plunge and set up Pi-hole, Unbound DNS, and PiVPN on my home network.

This post details my first homelab project, setting up a Raspberry Pi as part of a custom home networking setup designed to improve privacy, security, and enable network-wide ad blocking with tools like Pi-hole, Unbound DNS, and PiVPN.

Why I decided to set up Pi-hole, Unbound, and PiVPN

I wanted to improve my home network's performance and online privacy. Pi-hole's ability to block ads and trackers at the network level instantly appealed to me. Setting up Unbound as a local recursive DNS resolver offered a great way to learn more about DNS while improving security. Finally, adding PiVPN gave me a secure way to access my home network from anywhere.

By combining these tools on a Raspberry Pi, I created a faster, more private home network while gaining hands-on experience in network privacy tools.

Replacing the ISP Router with My Own

After researching Pi-hole, I realized I'd need more control over my home network configuration than my ISP-provided router allowed. I wanted custom DNS settings and the ability to reserve IP addresses for devices like my Raspberry Pi. Since my ISP router didn't support these features, I decided to replace it with my own router.

I found a used TP-Link Archer AX55 router for $10 on a local marketplace. From my research, I knew this router was a solid performer for a DIY home network setup. It offered the flexibility I needed and made it easy to integrate Pi-hole as my network's primary DNS server.

Putting the ISP Modem into Bridge Mode

What is Bridge Mode?

Bridge mode disables your ISP router's networking functions so your own router can handle all networking functions such as DHCP, DNS, firewall, and routing. This is essential when setting up a custom home network with tools like Pi-hole and Unbound, as it allows you to take full control of your network configuration.

When bridge mode is enabled, the ISP modem acts as a simple pass-through device, forwarding all traffic to your router without interfering with the data.

How to Enable Bridge Mode

Access your ISP modem's web interface.
Log in with admin credentials.
Enable Bridge Mode (or Pass-through Mode).
Save settings and restart.

Steps for enabling bridge mode vary by ISP and modem model, so check your ISP's documentation or support resources for specific instructions.

Setting Up the New Router and Network

With my modem in bridge mode, I connected the TP-Link router and:

Configured DHCP settings.
Reserved a static IP for the Raspberry Pi.
Set strong Wi-Fi security settings and guest networks.

Giving New Life to My Raspberry Pi

Why Use a Raspberry Pi for Home Networking Projects

The Raspberry Pi is perfect for self-hosted network tools like Pi-hole and PiVPN. It's inexpensive, power-efficient, and backed by a massive community.

Installing Raspberry Pi OS

To get started with your Raspberry Pi, you'll need to install an operating system. The official Raspberry Pi OS (formerly Raspbian) is a great choice for most users. For more information on installation options, visit the Raspberry Pi documentation.

Installing Pi-hole on a Raspberry Pi

Pi-hole is a network-wide ad blocker that works at the DNS level, meaning it can filter out ads and trackers for every device on your network. I installed Pi-hole on my Raspberry Pi 4 and integrated it with my router so all traffic flows through it.

The setup process was straightforward — download the installer, follow the prompts, and configure Pi-hole as the network's DNS server. The official Pi-hole installation guide covers every step in detail if you'd like to follow along.

Adding Unbound for Local DNS Resolution

Unbound turns your Raspberry Pi into a validating, recursive, caching DNS resolver, improving both security and privacy. It works seamlessly with Pi-hole to eliminate reliance on external DNS providers. For more information on configuring Unbound with Pi-hole, refer to the official Pi-hole documentation.

Configuring the Router to Use Pi-hole

By setting your router's primary DNS to your Pi-hole's IP address, all devices on your network will send their DNS queries through Pi-hole. This allows Pi-hole to filter out ad and tracker domains at the DNS level, effectively blocking unwanted content for every device connected to your network.

Adding Block Lists to Pi-hole

In order for your Pi-hole to effectively block ads and trackers, you'll need to add block lists. These lists contain domains known to serve ads, trackers, and other unwanted content. Here's how to add block lists. Pi-hole has some good default lists, but you can always choose to add your own from popular block lists such as Firebog.

Setting Up PiVPN for Secure Remote Access

Using WireGuard with PiVPN, I can securely access my homelab and Raspberry Pi services from anywhere. It's fast, easy to configure, and runs flawlessly on laptops and mobile devices. For detailed instruction visit the official PiVPN documentation.

Results and Impressions

My home network upgrade has improved ad-blocking, increased privacy, and given me secure remote access. It's my first true homelab project, and the learning experience was well worth it.

Looking Ahead

Next, I plan to containerize Pi-hole, Unbound, and PiVPN using Docker, add network-attached storage (NAS), and experiment with self-hosted web servers for development projects.

Summary & Key Takeaways

Setting up your own router and putting the ISP modem into bridge mode gives you full control over your home network.
Using a Raspberry Pi 4 with Pi-hole blocks ads and trackers network-wide, improving privacy and browsing experience.
Adding Unbound DNS enhances security by providing a local recursive DNS resolver.
PiVPN (with WireGuard) allows secure remote access to your homelab from anywhere.
This project is a great first step into homelabs and home networking, offering hands-on learning and practical benefits.
Future expansions could include containerizing services with Docker, adding NAS, and running self-hosted servers.

Conclusion

If you're interested in improving your home network or starting a homelab, a Raspberry Pi running Pi-hole, Unbound, and PiVPN is a perfect beginner project. You'll gain hands-on networking skills while boosting your privacy, security, and performance.