A network device having an embedded router (eRouter) providing connections for a plurality of client devices in a local area network, and an embedded cable modem (eCM) bridging communication between a wide area network (WAN) network and the eRouter. The network device also includes a memory, and at least one processor configured to execute instructions stored on said memory to cause said network device to implement an eRouter physical interface and an eCM physical interface according to a configuration file, and to transmit a generic routing encapsulation (GRE) domain name system (DNS) query to a DNS server from the eRouter physical interface or the eCM physical interface.