Re: [DNSOP] BULK RR as optional feature

> -----Original Message-----
> From: DNSOP [mailto:dnsop-bounces@ietf.org] On Behalf Of John Levine
>
> At yesterday's session, Tale confirmed that since BULK adds so much
> new special purpose complexity to DNS servers, the plan is that
> support for it will be optional.
>
> An optional RRTYPE with extra semantics introduces some new
> compatibility problems.  What happens if a server that doesn't
> support BULK tries to load a local zone file with a BULK record.
>

Hi John,

Thanks for your beautiful question.  If a server doesn't support BULK
the RR will simply sit there like any other unrecognized RR type.

>
> Does it reject the whole file, ignore the record, or something else?
> What if such a server receives BULK by AXFR?  By IXFR?  What if one
> shows up in a cache from a buggy authoritative server?  In all of
> these cases, the current RFC 3597 behavior will just return the
> BULK record which seems wrong.
>

The BULK RR simply transfers "intent" or a "recipe" for other records.
As you indicate, it would be displayed as TYPEXX and "\#" RDATA
encoding but would not interfere with transfers.  Since this RFC3597
behavior is expected behavior, these zones could even be housed in a
nameserver without support and transferred to one with, again with
no impact to the transfer.

One thing I feel I must point out is no one other than the zone admin
really cares about the recipe just the cupcakes.  If your nameserver
can't (or won't) make cupcakes then the cupcakes just don't exist.

Not understanding the recipe is really no different than not using it.

>
> I continue to think that this kind of feature belongs in special
> purpose DNS servers, not in the core DNS.
>

I wouldn't want to force any customers to use "XYZ" just to be able
to send us their recipes.  They probably already have tools and people
in place for managing their current "ABC" nameservers.

I would also just love for a $GENERATE to make it across the wire
intact (assuming both ends are on bind).

Thanks again,
John

>
> R's,
> John
>
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