The Aztech DSL1015EW DNS problem

The Aztech DSL1015EW is perfect for a router, except that it comes with a problem that no other routers should have.

It doesn't resolve or forward DNS for you. As a result, when you're installing it on your own, suddenly, you'll notice that ping www.google.com doesn't work, but ping 8.8.8.8 (or ping 165.21.100.88 or any other IP address) does.

In addition, if you have any other devices (smartphones, smart TVs), and they do not have configuration options to allow you to set which DNS server to use, then you're screwed as well.  Symptoms of this problem are failures to browse web sites.

Your available options? Return the router to whoever sold it to you, or upgrade the firmware (if there is any).

The DNS option isn't limited to just this particular Aztech router. As far as I'm aware, it happens to the Aztech HomePlug devices as well (which I used a few times in the past year). It's as if the R&D guys at Aztech don't know what DNS forwarding is, or how to set DNS options in DHCP.

Based on these two experiences, I would advise everyone to avoid all Aztech routers.