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What is 4.2.2.2?

4.2.2.2 is Level 3 / Lumen (4.2.2.x)'s secondary (backup) DNS address, the fallback for the primary 4.2.2.1, run by Lumen (formerly Level 3). Here's what it does and how it relates to the primary.

Updated 4 min read

What is 4.2.2.2?

4.2.2.2 is the secondary DNS resolver address for Level 3 / Lumen (4.2.2.x), operated by Lumen (formerly Level 3) — the backup your device falls back to when the primary (4.2.2.1) isn't answering. It resolves the same names, from the same service, as the primary. Long-standing anycast resolvers in Level 3 (now Lumen) address space, widely used as 4.2.2.1–4.2.2.6 but never an official product.

Operator
Lumen (formerly Level 3)
This address
4.2.2.2 (secondary)
Paired address
4.2.2.1
  • No-log : no
  • DNSSEC : no
  • Malware blocking : no
  • Ad blocking : no
  • Family filter : no

How 4.2.2.2 works as a secondary address

4.2.2.2 is a backup resolver. Your operating system sends each DNS query to your primary DNS server first — for Level 3 / Lumen (4.2.2.x) that's 4.2.2.1 and only turns to 4.2.2.2 if the primary doesn't answer in time. It isn't queried in parallel, and it isn't "faster" or "slower" than the primary — it points to the same Level 3 / Lumen (4.2.2.x) service. The reason to set it is resilience: if the primary has a brief hiccup, your device keeps resolving names instead of failing.

Set 4.2.2.1 as your primary DNS and 4.2.2.2 as the secondary to get Level 3 / Lumen (4.2.2.x) either way.

Can you time 4.2.2.2 from a browser?

Not directly. Level 3 / Lumen (4.2.2.x) publishes no browser-reachable encrypted-DNS (DoH) endpoint for 4.2.2.2, and a browser can't send a plain DNS query to a raw IP — so there's no honest way to time this address from a web page. To measure it, set 4.2.2.2 as your DNS and run the full DNS speed test, or use dig @4.2.2.2 example.com from a terminal.

Should you use it?

Long-standing anycast resolvers in Level 3 (now Lumen) address space, widely used as 4.2.2.1–4.2.2.6 but never an official product.

Best for: Speed.

Like any public resolver, Level 3 / Lumen (4.2.2.x) adds a small round trip compared with your ISP's default DNS, and it can't optimize CDN routing as tightly as a resolver peered locally with your network in every case. Use the live timing check above, or the full DNS speed test, to see whether it's actually faster than what you have now.

To use Level 3 / Lumen (4.2.2.x), set 4.2.2.1 as your primary DNS and 4.2.2.2 as the secondary — see the device and router setup guides .

4.2.2.2 — frequently asked questions

Is 4.2.2.2 safe to use?

Yes. 4.2.2.2 is a legitimate public DNS address operated by Lumen (formerly Level 3) (Level 3 / Lumen (4.2.2.x)). No published privacy or logging policy exists for these resolvers.

Is 4.2.2.2 free?

Yes — Level 3 / Lumen (4.2.2.x) is a free public resolver. Point your device or router's DNS at 4.2.2.1 (primary) and 4.2.2.2 (secondary).

Does 4.2.2.2 log my activity?

No published privacy or logging policy exists for these resolvers.

Is 4.2.2.2 faster than my ISP's DNS?

It can be, but it depends on your location and network — and 4.2.2.2 has no browser-reachable encrypted-DNS (DoH) endpoint, so it can't be timed from this page. Set it as your DNS and run the full DNS speed test, or compare it with dig or nslookup from your device.

What's the difference between 4.2.2.2 and 4.2.2.1?

4.2.2.1 is Level 3 / Lumen (4.2.2.x)'s primary DNS address and 4.2.2.2 is the secondary. Your device queries the primary first and only falls back to 4.2.2.2 if the primary stops answering. Both point to the same Level 3 / Lumen (4.2.2.x) service with the same features, so the secondary is there for redundancy, not extra speed — set 4.2.2.1 as your first DNS entry and 4.2.2.2 as the second.