Barry Finkel wrote:
> 4) ;; AUTHORITY SECTION:
> earthlink.net. 1800 IN NS itchy.earthlink.net.
> earthlink.net. 1800 IN NS scratchy.earthlink.net.
>
> This authority section gives you the names of the authoritative
> name servers. I believe that this authority section is not
> required to be present.
>
I hope no-one reads this as a blanket statement that Authority Sections
are optional in DNS responses. In _this_ case it was optional, but in
others -- negative responses, referrals -- they are most definitely
mandatory, either to contain an SOA RR (in the case of a negative
response) or NS RRs (in the case of a referral).
- Kevin