Book Image

DNS in Action

By : CP Books a.s.
Book Image

DNS in Action

By: CP Books a.s.

Overview of this book

The Domain Name System is one of the foundations of the internet. It is the system that allows the translation of human-readable domain names into machines-readable IP addresses and the reverse translation of IP addresses into domain names. This book describes the basic DNS protocol and its extensions; DNS delegation and registration, including for reverse domains; using DNS servers in networks that are not connected to the internet; and using DNS servers on firewall machines. Many detailed examples are used throughout the book to show perform various configuration and administration tasks.
Table of Contents (16 chapters)
DNS in Action
Credits
About the Authors
Preface
Country Codes and RIRs
Index

3.3 Incremental Zone Transfer


Incremental zone transfer is specified by RFC 1995. Incremental zone transfer (IXFR) enables the transfer of only the data changed from the master server to the slave server, i.e., just a part of the relevant zone, should a change in the zone data occur. On the other hand, the classic zone transfer (AXFR) transfers the whole zone, should it be altered in any way.

The database history is needed in order for the master server to be able to provide the slave server with only the zone records that have been changed. The master server is thus obliged to keep track of the differences between the newest version of the zone and several older ones. The master server sends the zones that have been corrected on the master server by using DNS Update to the slave server via IXFR. Individual file versions differ in the serial number contained in the SOA record. If the slave server finds out that it needs new data for the zone and supports IXRF, it sends a request to the...