serial number format in dynamic dns update

Jonathan de Boyne Pollard J.deBoynePollard at Tesco.NET
Fri Oct 8 15:43:04 UTC 2004


NZ> Verisign is pushing for a new format.
NZ> 
http://www.verisign.com/products-services/naming-and-directory-services/naming-services/page_005513.html

No, it isn't. 

First:  The format isn't new.  Some DNS server softwares have been using 
this serial number format for years.  And it is mentioned, in passing, 
in RFC 1034.

Second: Verisign isn't pushing for the format to be universally adopted, 
at all.  For any given "SOA" resource record set, the serial number 
format is an entirely private matter for the content DNS servers serving 
up the relevant "zone", and depends from what DNS database replication 
mechanism is in use amongst them.  (Most DNS database replication 
mechanisms don't even use the serial number at all.)  In the cases of 
"com." and "net.", for example, the serial numbers in the "SOA" resource 
records are entirely private matters for the "com." and "net." content 
DNS servers, all of which are run by Verisign.  As such, the serial 
number format is a matter entirely internal to Verisign.  Verisign's 
announcement is merely a courtesy, primarily for the benefit of those 
whom it is allowing to make their own private replicas of its "com." and 
"net." DNS databases.

<URL:http://homepages.tesco.net./~J.deBoynePollard/FGA/dns-soa-field-semantics.html#Replication>


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