DIG root.hints update failure

[G. Roderick Singleton]

Jim Reid wrote:
> 
> >>>>> ">" == G Roderick Singleton <gsingleton at home.com> writes:
> 
>     >> So what's your point?
> 
> Updating the root.cache file is for the most part pointless. And if it
> has to be done - say once every 5 years or so - you should ftp the
> file from ftp.rs.internic.net. This is now the third time I've made
> that point. Is is clear enough now? Using dig might produce something
> usable, but doesn't produce the version information that's in the
> comments in the file. That version information is important and
> useful, especially to people who have a proper CM procedure
> surrounding their DNS administration.
> 
>     >> My point is still if it's out-of-date, bind throws errors.
> 
> No. It will only throw errors if NONE of the name servers listed in
> the file are reachable. This is extremely unlikely unless the file
> exclusively consists of lies. The most probable reason why the name
> server will complain that it can't find the root servers is no access
> to the Internet because the link to your ISP is down. It's hard to
> invent another scenario that could explain why queries to all 9 or 13
> name servers in the root.cache file would fail or timeout.

Okay okay!  What you say makes much sense.  I wish I had the logs
to backup what I suggested.  I did get errors using the ftp'd copy
and I recovered using dig. 

Thanks for being patient.
-- 
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G. Roderick Singleton, <gsingleton at home.com> PATH tech,
71 Underhill Drive, Unit 159, Toronto, ON  M3A 2J8
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