Re: [DNSOP] DNS Terminology: Glue

[Paul Hoffman <[e-mail]>]

Casey noticing the updated, wider definition in 2181 kinda throws a wrench into the "what is not glue" discussion. Here is a proposed update to the draft that includes both definitions and discusses the ramifications of the update.

   Glue records -- Resource records which are not part of the
   authoritative data [for a zone], and are address resource records for
   the servers [in a subzone].  These RRs are only necessary if the name
   server's name is "below" the cut, and are only used as part of a
   referral response.  (Definition from RFC 1034, section 4.2.1)

   A later definition is that glue "includes any record in a zone file
   that is not properly part of that zone, including nameserver records
   of delegated sub-zones (NS records), address records that accompany
   those NS records (A, AAAA, etc), and any other stray data that might
   appear".  (Definition from RFC 2181, section 5.4.1) This definition
   in RFC 2181 is wider than the one from RFC 1034, and bases the
   definition on the contents of a zone file.  Some implementers might
   only be thinking about the earlier definition when they see rules
   about glue records.

--Paul Hoffman