* * * * *

                                Mini DNS rant

I realize that Bind [1] was first written in 1983 and that its continued
existence must be a surprise to Paul Mockapetris [2], but still, would it
have all that difficult to include some provisions in Bind such that you
don't have to maintain two configuration files?

Basically, DNS (Domain Name Service) information is stored in zone files (why
was the configuration format for a particular instance of a DNS server
codified up as a standard? But that's a rant for another time) which are
referenced by a DNS server, like:

> zone "conman.org" IN {
>       type master;
>       file "pri/conman.org";
> };
>

Okay, but for backup DNS servers, you configure them as:

> zone "conman.org" IN {
>       type slave;
>       file "sec/conman.org";
>       masters { 216.82.116.251; };
> };
>

Hence, two configuration files you need to maintain. This is insane. Most
sites I know simply copy all the configuration files to all the DNS servers
and run them all as masters. Wouldn't it be easier to configure backup DNS
servers as:

> options {
>       slave-directory "/var/bind/sec";
>       accept-zones-from { 216.82.116.251; };
>       ...
> }
>

That would make my life (and I suspect, a whole bunch of other sysadmins'
lives) all that much easier.

Then again, this functionality could already exist in bind for all I know.

I should probably check.

[1] http://www.isc.org/sw/bind/
[2] http://www.softexsolutions.com/crc/webdev/internetHistory/people/index.cfm?action=paulMockapetris

Email author at [email protected]

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