summaryrefslogtreecommitdiff
path: root/doc/draft/draft-ietf-dnsext-rfc2672bis-dname-13.txt
blob: 13195bb4a220504127eae1a72b7404504066c382 (plain)
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173
174
175
176
177
178
179
180
181
182
183
184
185
186
187
188
189
190
191
192
193
194
195
196
197
198
199
200
201
202
203
204
205
206
207
208
209
210
211
212
213
214
215
216
217
218
219
220
221
222
223
224
225
226
227
228
229
230
231
232
233
234
235
236
237
238
239
240
241
242
243
244
245
246
247
248
249
250
251
252
253
254
255
256
257
258
259
260
261
262
263
264
265
266
267
268
269
270
271
272
273
274
275
276
277
278
279
280
281
282
283
284
285
286
287
288
289
290
291
292
293
294
295
296
297
298
299
300
301
302
303
304
305
306
307
308
309
310
311
312
313
314
315
316
317
318
319
320
321
322
323
324
325
326
327
328
329
330
331
332
333
334
335
336
337
338
339
340
341
342
343
344
345
346
347
348
349
350
351
352
353
354
355
356
357
358
359
360
361
362
363
364
365
366
367
368
369
370
371
372
373
374
375
376
377
378
379
380
381
382
383
384
385
386
387
388
389
390
391
392
393
394
395
396
397
398
399
400
401
402
403
404
405
406
407
408
409
410
411
412
413
414
415
416
417
418
419
420
421
422
423
424
425
426
427
428
429
430
431
432
433
434
435
436
437
438
439
440
441
442
443
444
445
446
447
448
449
450
451
452
453
454
455
456
457
458
459
460
461
462
463
464
465
466
467
468
469
470
471
472
473
474
475
476
477
478
479
480
481
482
483
484
485
486
487
488
489
490
491
492
493
494
495
496
497
498
499
500
501
502
503
504
505
506
507
508
509
510
511
512
513
514
515
516
517
518
519
520
521
522
523
524
525
526
527
528
529
530
531
532
533
534
535
536
537
538
539
540
541
542
543
544
545
546
547
548
549
550
551
552
553
554
555
556
557
558
559
560
561
562
563
564
565
566
567
568
569
570
571
572
573
574
575
576
577
578
579
580
581
582
583
584
585
586
587
588
589
590
591
592
593
594
595
596
597
598
599
600
601
602
603
604
605
606
607
608
609
610
611
612
613
614
615
616
617
618
619
620
621
622
623
624
625
626
627
628
629
630
631
632
633
634
635
636
637
638
639
640
641
642
643
644
645
646
647
648
649
650
651
652
653
654
655
656
657
658
659
660
661
662
663
664
665
666
667
668
669
670
671
672
673
674
675
676
677
678
679
680
681
682
683
684
685
686
687
688
689
690
691
692
693
694
695
696
697
698
699
700
701
702
703
704
705
706
707
708
709
710
711
712
713
714
715
716
717
718
719
720
721
722
723
724
725
726
727
728
729
730
731
732
733
734
735
736
737
738
739
740
741
742
743
744
745
746
747
748
749
750
751
752
753
754
755
756
757
758
759
760
761
762
763
764
765
766
767
768
769
770
771
772
773
774
775
776
777
778
779
780
781
782
783
784
785
786
787
788
789
790
791
792
793
794
795
796
797
798
799
800
801
802
803
804
805
806
807
808
809
810
811
812
813
814
815
816
817
818
819
820
821
822
823
824
825
826
827
828
829
830
831
832
833
834
835
836
837
838
839
840
841
842
843
844
845
846
847
848
849
850
851
852
853
854
855
856
857
858
859
860
861
862
863
864
865
866
867
868
869
870
871
872
873
874
875
876
877
878
879
880
881
882
883
884
885
886
887
888
889
890
891
892
893
894
895
896
897
898
899
900
901
902
903
904
905
906
907
908
909
910
911
912
913
914
915
916
917
918
919
920
921
922
923
924
925
926
927
928
929
930
931
932
933
934
935
936
937
938
939
940
941
942
943
944
945
946
947
948
949
950
951
952



DNS Extensions Working Group                                     S. Rose
Internet-Draft                                                      NIST
Obsoletes: 2672 (if approved)                              W. Wijngaards
Updates: 3363,4294                                            NLnet Labs
(if approved)                                                May 2, 2008
Intended status: Standards Track
Expires: November 3, 2008


                 Update to DNAME Redirection in the DNS
                 draft-ietf-dnsext-rfc2672bis-dname-13

Status of This Memo

   By submitting this Internet-Draft, each author represents that any
   applicable patent or other IPR claims of which he or she is aware
   have been or will be disclosed, and any of which he or she becomes
   aware will be disclosed, in accordance with Section 6 of BCP 79.

   Internet-Drafts are working documents of the Internet Engineering
   Task Force (IETF), its areas, and its working groups.  Note that
   other groups may also distribute working documents as Internet-
   Drafts.

   Internet-Drafts are draft documents valid for a maximum of six months
   and may be updated, replaced, or obsoleted by other documents at any
   time.  It is inappropriate to use Internet-Drafts as reference
   material or to cite them other than as "work in progress."

   The list of current Internet-Drafts can be accessed at
   http://www.ietf.org/ietf/1id-abstracts.txt.

   The list of Internet-Draft Shadow Directories can be accessed at
   http://www.ietf.org/shadow.html.

   This Internet-Draft will expire on November 3, 2008.

Copyright Notice

   Copyright (C) The IETF Trust (2008).

Abstract

   The DNAME record provides redirection for a sub-tree of the domain
   name tree in the DNS system.  That is, all names that end with a
   particular suffix are redirected to another part of the DNS.  This is
   an update of the original specification in RFC 2672, also aligning
   RFC 3363 and RFC 4294 with this revision.



Rose & Wijngaards       Expires November 3, 2008                [Page 1]

Internet-Draft              DNAME Redirection                   May 2008


Requirements Language

   The key words "MUST", "MUST NOT", "REQUIRED", "SHALL", "SHALL NOT",
   "SHOULD", "SHOULD NOT", "RECOMMENDED", "MAY", and "OPTIONAL" in this
   document are to be interpreted as described in RFC 2119 [RFC2119].

Table of Contents

   1.  Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  3

   2.  The DNAME Resource Record  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  3
     2.1.  Format . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  3
     2.2.  The DNAME Substitution . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  4
     2.3.  DNAME Apex not Redirected itself . . . . . . . . . . . . .  5
     2.4.  Names Next to and Below a DNAME Record . . . . . . . . . .  6
     2.5.  Compression of the DNAME record. . . . . . . . . . . . . .  6

   3.  Processing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  7
     3.1.  CNAME synthesis and UD bit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  7
     3.2.  Server algorithm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  8
     3.3.  Wildcards  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  9
     3.4.  Acceptance and Intermediate Storage  . . . . . . . . . . . 10

   4.  DNAME Discussions in Other Documents . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

   5.  Other Issues with DNAME  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
     5.1.  Canonical hostnames cannot be below DNAME owners . . . . . 12
     5.2.  Dynamic Update and DNAME . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
     5.3.  DNSSEC and DNAME . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
       5.3.1.  DNAME bit in NSEC type map . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
       5.3.2.  Validators Must Understand DNAME . . . . . . . . . . . 12
         5.3.2.1.  DNAME in Bitmap Causes Invalid Name Error  . . . . 13
         5.3.2.2.  Valid Name Error Response Involving DNAME in
                   Bitmap . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
         5.3.2.3.  Response With Synthesized CNAME  . . . . . . . . . 13

   6.  IANA Considerations  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

   7.  Security Considerations  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

   8.  Acknowledgments  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

   9.  References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
     9.1.  Normative References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
     9.2.  Informative References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15






Rose & Wijngaards       Expires November 3, 2008                [Page 2]

Internet-Draft              DNAME Redirection                   May 2008


1.  Introduction

   DNAME is a DNS Resource Record type originally defined in RFC 2672
   [RFC2672].  DNAME provides redirection from a part of the DNS name
   tree to another part of the DNS name tree.

   The DNAME RR and the CNAME RR [RFC1034] cause a lookup to
   (potentially) return data corresponding to a domain name different
   from the queried domain name.  The difference between the two
   resource records is that the CNAME RR directs the lookup of data at
   its owner to another single name, a DNAME RR directs lookups for data
   at descendents of its owner's name to corresponding names under a
   different (single) node of the tree.

   Take for example, looking through a zone (see RFC 1034 [RFC1034],
   section 4.3.2, step 3) for the domain name "foo.example.com" and a
   DNAME resource record is found at "example.com" indicating that all
   queries under "example.com" be directed to "example.net".  The lookup
   process will return to step 1 with the new query name of
   "foo.example.net".  Had the query name been "www.foo.example.com" the
   new query name would be "www.foo.example.net".

   This document is an update of the original specification of DNAME in
   RFC 2672 [RFC2672].  DNAME was conceived to help with the problem of
   maintaining address-to-name mappings in a context of network
   renumbering.  With a careful set-up, a renumbering event in the
   network causes no change to the authoritative server that has the
   address-to-name mappings.  Examples in practice are classless reverse
   address space delegations.

   Another usage of DNAME lies in redirection of name spaces.  For
   example, a zone administrator may want sub-trees of the DNS to
   contain the same information.  Examples include punycode alternates
   for domain spaces.  DNAME is also used for the redirection of ENUM
   domains to another maintaining party.

   This update to DNAME does not change the wire format or the handling
   of DNAME Resource Records by existing software.  A new UD (Understand
   DNAME) bit in the EDNS flags field can be used to signal that CNAME
   synthesis is not needed.  Discussion is added on problems that may be
   encountered when using DNAME.

2.  The DNAME Resource Record

2.1.  Format

   The DNAME RR has mnemonic DNAME and type code 39 (decimal).  It is
   not class-sensitive.



Rose & Wijngaards       Expires November 3, 2008                [Page 3]

Internet-Draft              DNAME Redirection                   May 2008


   Its RDATA is comprised of a single field, <target>, which contains a
   fully qualified domain name that must be sent in uncompressed form
   [RFC1035], [RFC3597].  The <target> field MUST be present.  The
   presentation format of <target> is that of a domain name [RFC1035].

           <owner> <ttl> <class> DNAME <target>

   The effect of the DNAME RR is the substitution of the record's
   <target> for its owner name, as a suffix of a domain name.  This
   substitution has to be applied for every DNAME RR found in the
   resolution process, which allows fairly lengthy valid chains of DNAME
   RRs.

   Details of the substitution process, methods to avoid conflicting
   resource records, and rules for specific corner cases are given in
   the following subsections.

2.2.  The DNAME Substitution

   When following RFC 1034 [RFC1034], section 4.3.2's algorithm's third
   step, "start matching down, label by label, in the zone" and a node
   is found to own a DNAME resource record a DNAME substitution occurs.
   The name being sought may be the original query name or a name that
   is the result of a CNAME resource record being followed or a
   previously encountered DNAME.  As is the case of finding a CNAME
   resource record or NS resource record set, the processing of a DNAME
   will happen prior to finding the desired domain name.

   A DNAME substitution is performed by replacing the suffix labels of
   the name being sought matching the owner name of the DNAME resource
   record with the string of labels in the RDATA field.  The matching
   labels end with the root label in all cases.  Only whole labels are
   replaced.  See the table of examples for common cases and corner
   cases.

















Rose & Wijngaards       Expires November 3, 2008                [Page 4]

Internet-Draft              DNAME Redirection                   May 2008


   In the table below, the QNAME refers to the query name.  The owner is
   the DNAME owner domain name, and the target refers to the target of
   the DNAME record.  The result is the resulting name after performing
   the DNAME substitution on the query name. "no match" means that the
   query did not match the DNAME and thus no substitution is performed
   and a possible error message is returned (if no other result is
   possible).  In the examples below, 'cyc' and 'shortloop' contain
   loops.

    QNAME            owner  DNAME   target         result
    ---------------- -------------- -------------- -----------------
    com.             example.com.   example.net.   <no match>
    example.com.     example.com.   example.net.   <no match>
    a.example.com.   example.com.   example.net.   a.example.net.
    a.b.example.com. example.com.   example.net.   a.b.example.net.
    ab.example.com.  b.example.com. example.net.   <no match>
    foo.example.com. example.com.   example.net.   foo.example.net.
    a.x.example.com. x.example.com. example.net.   a.example.net.
    a.example.com.   example.com.   y.example.net. a.y.example.net.
    cyc.example.com. example.com.   example.com.   cyc.example.com.
    cyc.example.com. example.com.   c.example.com. cyc.c.example.com.
    shortloop.x.x.   x.             .              shortloop.x.
    shortloop.x.     x.             .              shortloop.

                   Table 1. DNAME Substitution Examples.

   It is possible for DNAMEs to form loops, just as CNAMEs can form
   loops.  DNAMEs and CNAMEs can chain together to form loops.  A single
   corner case DNAME can form a loop.  Resolvers and servers should be
   cautious in devoting resources to a query, but be aware that fairly
   long chains of DNAMEs may be valid.  Zone content administrators
   should take care to insure that there are no loops that could occur
   when using DNAME or DNAME/CNAME redirection.

   The domain name can get too long during substitution.  For example,
   suppose the target name of the DNAME RR is 250 octets in length
   (multiple labels), if an incoming QNAME that has a first label over 5
   octets in length, the result of the result would be a name over 255
   octets.  If this occurs the server returns an RCODE of YXDOMAIN
   [RFC2136].  The DNAME record and its signature (if the zone is
   signed) are included in the answer as proof for the YXDOMAIN (value
   6) RCODE.

2.3.  DNAME Apex not Redirected itself

   Unlike a CNAME RR, a DNAME RR redirects DNS names subordinate to its
   owner name; the owner name of a DNAME is not redirected itself.  The
   domain name that owns a DNAME record is allowed to have other



Rose & Wijngaards       Expires November 3, 2008                [Page 5]

Internet-Draft              DNAME Redirection                   May 2008


   resource record types at that domain name, except DNAMEs or CNAMEs.
   This means that DNAME RRs are not allowed at the parent side of a
   delegation point but are allowed at a zone apex.

   The reason for this decision was that one can have a DNAME at the
   zone apex.  There still is a need to have the customary SOA and NS
   resource records at the zone apex.  This means that DNAME does not
   mirror a zone completely, as it does not mirror the zone apex.

   These rules also allow DNAME records to be queried through RFC 1034
   [RFC1034] compliant, DNAME-unaware caches.

2.4.  Names Next to and Below a DNAME Record

   Resource records MUST NOT exist at any domain name subordinate to the
   owner of a DNAME RR.  To get the contents for names subordinate to
   that owner, the DNAME redirection must be invoked and the resulting
   target queried.  A server MAY refuse to load a zone that has data at
   a domain name subordinate to a domain name owning a DNAME RR.  If the
   server does load the zone, those names below the DNAME RR will be
   occluded, RFC 2136 [RFC2136], section 7.18.  Also a server SHOULD
   refuse to load a zone subordinate to the owner of a DNAME record in
   the ancestor zone.  See Section 5.2 for further discussion related to
   dynamic update.

   DNAME is a singleton type, meaning only one DNAME is allowed per
   name.  The owner name of a DNAME can only have one DNAME RR, and no
   CNAME RRs can exist at that name.  These rules make sure that for a
   single domain name only one redirection exists, and thus no confusion
   which one to follow.  A server SHOULD refuse to load a zone that
   violates these rules.

2.5.  Compression of the DNAME record.

   The DNAME owner name can be compressed like any other owner name.
   The DNAME RDATA target name MUST NOT be sent out in compressed form,
   so that a DNAME RR can be treated as an unknown type [RFC3597].

   Although the previous DNAME specification [RFC2672] (that is
   obsoleted by this specification) talked about signaling to allow
   compression of the target name, such signaling is not specified.

   RFC 2672 stated that the EDNS version had a meaning for understanding
   of DNAME and DNAME target name compression.  This document updates
   RFC 2672, in that there is no EDNS version signaling for DNAME.
   However, the flags section of EDNS(0) is updated with a Understand-
   DNAME flag by this document (See Section 3.3).




Rose & Wijngaards       Expires November 3, 2008                [Page 6]

Internet-Draft              DNAME Redirection                   May 2008


3.  Processing

   The DNAME RR causes type NS additional section processing.

3.1.  CNAME synthesis and UD bit

   When preparing an response, a server upon performing a DNAME
   substitution will in all cases include the DNAME RR used in the
   answer section.  A CNAME RR record with TTL equal to the
   corresponding DNAME RR is synthesized and included in the answer
   section for old resolvers.  The owner name of the CNAME is the QNAME
   of the query.  DNSSEC [RFC4033], [RFC4034], [RFC4035] says that the
   synthesized CNAME does not have to be signed.  The DNAME has an RRSIG
   and a validating resolver can check the CNAME against the DNAME
   record and validate the DNAME record.

   Resolvers MUST be able to handle a synthesized CNAME TTL of zero or
   equal to the TTL of the corresponding DNAME record.  A TTL of zero
   means that the CNAME can be discarded immediately after processing
   the answer.  DNAME aware resolvers can set the Understand-DNAME (UD
   bit) to receive a response with only the DNAME RR and no synthesized
   CNAMEs.

   The UD bit is part of the EDNS [RFC2671] extended RCODE and Flags
   field.  It is used to omit server processing, transmission and
   resolver processing of unsigned synthesized CNAMEs.  Resolvers can
   set this in a query to request omission of the synthesized CNAMEs.
   Servers copy the UD bit to the response, and can omit synthesized
   CNAMEs from the answer.  Older resolvers do not set the UD bit, and
   older servers do not copy the UD bit to the answer, and will not omit
   synthesized CNAMEs.

   Updated EDNS extended RCODE and Flags field.

               +0 (MSB)                +1 (LSB)
      +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
   0: |   EXTENDED-RCODE      |       VERSION         |
      +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
   2: |DO|UD|                 Z                       |
      +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+

   Servers MUST be able to answer a query for a synthesized CNAME.  Like
   other query types this invokes the DNAME, and synthesizes the CNAME
   into the answer.







Rose & Wijngaards       Expires November 3, 2008                [Page 7]

Internet-Draft              DNAME Redirection                   May 2008


3.2.  Server algorithm

   Below the server algorithm, which appeared in RFC 2672 Section 4.1,
   is expanded to handle the UD (Understand DNAME) bit.

   1.  Set or clear the value of recursion available in the response
       depending on whether the name server is willing to provide
       recursive service.  If recursive service is available and
       requested via the RD bit in the query, go to step 5, otherwise
       step 2.

   2.  Search the available zones for the zone which is the nearest
       ancestor to QNAME.  If such a zone is found, go to step 3,
       otherwise step 4.

   3.  Start matching down, label by label, in the zone.  The matching
       process can terminate several ways:

       A.  If the whole of QNAME is matched, we have found the node.

           If the data at the node is a CNAME, and QTYPE does not match
           CNAME, copy the CNAME RR into the answer section of the
           response, change QNAME to the canonical name in the CNAME RR,
           and go back to step 1.

           Otherwise, copy all RRs which match QTYPE into the answer
           section and go to step 6.

       B.  If a match would take us out of the authoritative data, we
           have a referral.  This happens when we encounter a node with
           NS RRs marking cuts along the bottom of a zone.

           Copy the NS RRs for the sub-zone into the authority section
           of the reply.  Put whatever addresses are available into the
           additional section, using glue RRs if the addresses are not
           available from authoritative data or the cache.  Go to step
           4.

       C.  If at some label, a match is impossible (i.e., the
           corresponding label does not exist), look to see whether the
           last label matched has a DNAME record.

           If a DNAME record exists at that point, copy that record into
           the answer section.  If substitution of its <target> for its
           <owner> in QNAME would overflow the legal size for a <domain-
           name>, set RCODE to YXDOMAIN [RFC2136] and exit; otherwise
           perform the substitution and continue.  If the EDNS OPT
           record is present in the query and the UD bit is set, the



Rose & Wijngaards       Expires November 3, 2008                [Page 8]

Internet-Draft              DNAME Redirection                   May 2008


           server MAY copy the UD bit to the answer EDNS OPT record, and
           omit CNAME synthesis.  Else the server MUST synthesize a
           CNAME record as described above and include it in the answer
           section.  Go back to step 1.

           If there was no DNAME record, look to see if the "*" label
           exists.

           If the "*" label does not exist, check whether the name we
           are looking for is the original QNAME in the query or a name
           we have followed due to a CNAME or DNAME.  If the name is
           original, set an authoritative name error in the response and
           exit.  Otherwise just exit.

           If the "*" label does exist, match RRs at that node against
           QTYPE.  If any match, copy them into the answer section, but
           set the owner of the RR to be QNAME, and not the node with
           the "*" label.  If the data at the node with the "*" label is
           a CNAME, and QTYPE doesn't match CNAME, copy the CNAME RR
           into the answer section of the response changing the owner
           name to the QNAME, change QNAME to the canonical name in the
           CNAME RR, and go back to step 1.  Otherwise, Go to step 6.

   4.  Start matching down in the cache.  If QNAME is found in the
       cache, copy all RRs attached to it that match QTYPE into the
       answer section.  If QNAME is not found in the cache but a DNAME
       record is present at an ancestor of QNAME, copy that DNAME record
       into the answer section.  If there was no delegation from
       authoritative data, look for the best one from the cache, and put
       it in the authority section.  Go to step 6.

   5.  Use the local resolver or a copy of its algorithm to answer the
       query.  Store the results, including any intermediate CNAMEs and
       DNAMEs, in the answer section of the response.

   6.  Using local data only, attempt to add other RRs which may be
       useful to the additional section of the query.  Exit.

   Note that there will be at most one ancestor with a DNAME as
   described in step 4 unless some zone's data is in violation of the
   no-descendants limitation in section 3.  An implementation might take
   advantage of this limitation by stopping the search of step 3c or
   step 4 when a DNAME record is encountered.

3.3.  Wildcards

   The use of DNAME in conjunction with wildcards is discouraged
   [RFC4592].  Thus records of the form "*.example.com DNAME



Rose & Wijngaards       Expires November 3, 2008                [Page 9]

Internet-Draft              DNAME Redirection                   May 2008


   example.net" SHOULD NOT be used.

   The interaction between the expansion of the wildcard and the
   redirection of the DNAME is non-deterministic.  Because the
   processing is non-deterministic, DNSSEC validating resolvers may not
   be able to validate a wildcarded DNAME.

   A server MAY give a warning that the behavior is unspecified if such
   a wildcarded DNAME is loaded.  The server MAY refuse it, refuse to
   load or refuse dynamic update.

3.4.  Acceptance and Intermediate Storage

   DNS caches can encounter data at names below the owner name of a
   DNAME RR, due to a change at the authoritative server where data from
   before and after the change resides in the cache.  This conflict
   situation is a transitional phase, that ends when the old data times
   out.  The cache can opt to store both old and new data and treat each
   as if the other did not exist, or drop the old data, or drop the
   longer domain name.  In any approach, consistency returns after the
   older data TTL times out.

   DNS caches MUST perform CNAME synthesis on behalf of DNAME-ignorant
   clients.  A DNS cache that understands DNAMEs can send out queries on
   behalf of clients with the UD bit set (See Section 3.1).  After
   receiving the answers the DNS cache sends replies to DNAME ignorant
   clients that include DNAMEs and synthesized CNAMEs.

4.  DNAME Discussions in Other Documents

   In [RFC2181], in Section 10.3., the discussion on MX and NS records
   touches on redirection by CNAMEs, but this also holds for DNAMEs.



















Rose & Wijngaards       Expires November 3, 2008               [Page 10]

Internet-Draft              DNAME Redirection                   May 2008


   Excerpt from 10.3.  MX and NS records (in RFC 2181).

           The domain name used as the value of a NS resource record,
           or part of the value of a MX resource record must not be
           an alias.  Not only is the specification clear on this
           point, but using an alias in either of these positions
           neither works as well as might be hoped, nor well fulfills
           the ambition that may have led to this approach.  This
           domain name must have as its value one or more address
           records.  Currently those will be A records, however in
           the future other record types giving addressing
           information may be acceptable.  It can also have other
           RRs, but never a CNAME RR.

   The DNAME RR is discussed in RFC 3363, section 4, on A6 and DNAME.
   The opening premise of this section is demonstrably wrong, and so the
   conclusion based on that premise is wrong.  In particular, [RFC3363]
   deprecates the use of DNAME in the IPv6 reverse tree, which is then
   carried forward as a recommendation in [RFC4294].  Based on the
   experience gained in the meantime, [RFC3363] should be revised,
   dropping all constraints on having DNAME RRs in these zones.  This
   would greatly improve the manageability of the IPv6 reverse tree.
   These changes are made explicit below.

   In [RFC3363], the paragraph

     "The issues for DNAME in the reverse mapping tree appears to be
     closely tied to the need to use fragmented A6 in the main tree: if
     one is necessary, so is the other, and if one isn't necessary, the
     other isn't either.  Therefore, in moving RFC 2874 to experimental,
     the intent of this document is that use of DNAME RRs in the reverse
     tree be deprecated."

   is to be replaced with the word "DELETED".

   In [RFC4294], the reference to DNAME was left in as an editorial
   oversight.  The paragraph

     "Those nodes are NOT RECOMMENDED to support the experimental A6 and
     DNAME Resource Records [RFC3363]."

   is to be replaced by

     "Those nodes are NOT RECOMMENDED to support the experimental
     A6 Resource Record [RFC3363]."






Rose & Wijngaards       Expires November 3, 2008               [Page 11]

Internet-Draft              DNAME Redirection                   May 2008


5.  Other Issues with DNAME

   There are several issues to be aware of about the use of DNAME.

5.1.  Canonical hostnames cannot be below DNAME owners

   The names listed as target names of MX, NS, PTR and SRV [RFC2782]
   records must be canonical hostnames.  This means no CNAME or DNAME
   redirection may be present during DNS lookup of the address records
   for the host.  This is discussed in RFC 2181 [RFC2181], section 10.3,
   and RFC 1912 [RFC1912], section 2.4.  For SRV see RFC 2782 [RFC2782]
   page 4.

   The upshot of this is that although the lookup of a PTR record can
   involve DNAMEs, the name listed in the PTR record can not fall under
   a DNAME.  The same holds for NS, SRV and MX records.  For example,
   when punycode alternates for a zone use DNAME then the NS, MX, SRV
   and PTR records that point to that zone must use names without
   punycode in their RDATA.  What must be done then is to have the
   domain names with DNAME substitution already applied to it as the MX,
   NS, PTR, SRV data.  These are valid canonical hostnames.

5.2.  Dynamic Update and DNAME

   DNAME records can be added, changed and removed in a zone using
   dynamic update transactions.  Adding a DNAME RR to a zone occludes
   any domain names that may exist under the added DNAME.

   A server MUST ignore a dynamic update message that attempts to add a
   DNAME RR at a name that already has a CNAME RR or another DNAME RR
   associated with that name.

5.3.  DNSSEC and DNAME

5.3.1.  DNAME bit in NSEC type map

   When a validator checks the NSEC RRs returned on a name error
   response, it SHOULD check that the DNAME bit is not set.  If the
   DNAME bit is set then the DNAME substitution should have been done,
   but has not.

5.3.2.  Validators Must Understand DNAME

   Examples of why DNSSEC validators MUST understand DNAME.







Rose & Wijngaards       Expires November 3, 2008               [Page 12]

Internet-Draft              DNAME Redirection                   May 2008


5.3.2.1.  DNAME in Bitmap Causes Invalid Name Error

   ;; Header: QR AA DO RCODE=3(NXDOMAIN)
   ;; Question
   foo.bar.example.com. IN A
   ;; Answer
   bar.example.com. NSEC dub.example.com. A DNAME
   bar.example.com. RRSIG NSEC [valid signature]

   If this is the response, then only by understanding that the DNAME
   bit means that foo.bar.example.com needed to have been redirected by
   the DNAME, the validator can see that it is a BOGUS reply from an
   attacker that collated existing records from the DNS to create a
   confusing reply.

   If the DNAME bit had not been set in the NSEC record above then the
   answer would have validated as a correct name error response.

5.3.2.2.  Valid Name Error Response Involving DNAME in Bitmap

   ;; Header: QR AA DO RCODE=3(NXDOMAIN)
   ;; Question
   cee.example.com. IN A
   ;; Answer
   bar.example.com. NSEC dub.example.com. A DNAME
   bar.example.com. RRSIG NSEC [valid signature]

   This reply has the same NSEC records as the example above, but with
   this query name (cee.example.com), the answer is validated, because
   'cee' does not get redirected by the DNAME at 'bar'.

5.3.2.3.  Response With Synthesized CNAME

   ;; Header: QR AA DO RCODE=0(NOERROR)
   ;; Question
   foo.bar.example.com. IN A
   ;; Answer
   bar.example.com. DNAME bar.example.net.
   bar.example.com. RRSIG DNAME [valid signature]
   foo.bar.example.com. CNAME foo.bar.example.net.

   The answer shown above has the synthesized CNAME included.  However,
   the CNAME has no signature, since the server does not sign online.
   So it cannot be trusted.  It could be altered by an attacker to be
   foo.bar.example.com CNAME bla.bla.example.  The DNAME record does
   have its signature included, since it does not change for every query
   name.  The validator must verify the DNAME signature and then
   recursively resolve further to query for the foo.bar.example.net A



Rose & Wijngaards       Expires November 3, 2008               [Page 13]

Internet-Draft              DNAME Redirection                   May 2008


   record.

6.  IANA Considerations

   The DNAME Resource Record type code 39 (decimal) originally has been
   registered by [RFC2672].  IANA should update the DNS resource record
   registry to point to this document for RR type 39.

   This draft requests the second highest bit in the EDNS flags field
   for the Understand-DNAME (UD) flag.

7.  Security Considerations

   DNAME redirects queries elsewhere, which may impact security based on
   policy and the security status of the zone with the DNAME and the
   redirection zone's security status.

   If a validating resolver accepts wildcarded DNAMEs, this creates
   security issues.  Since the processing of a wildcarded DNAME is non-
   deterministic and the CNAME that was substituted by the server has no
   signature, the resolver may choose a different result than what the
   server meant, and consequently end up at the wrong destination.  Use
   of wildcarded DNAMEs is discouraged in any case [RFC4592].

   A validating resolver MUST understand DNAME, according to [RFC4034].
   In Section 5.3.2 examples are given that illustrate this need.

8.  Acknowledgments

   The authors of this draft would like to acknowledge Matt Larson for
   beginning this effort to address the issues related to the DNAME RR
   type.  The authors would also like to acknowledge Paul Vixie, Ed
   Lewis, Mark Andrews, Mike StJohns, Niall O'Reilly, Sam Weiler, Alfred
   Hines and Kevin Darcy for their review and comments on this document.

9.  References

9.1.  Normative References

   [RFC1034]  Mockapetris, P., "Domain names - concepts and facilities",
              STD 13, RFC 1034, November 1987.

   [RFC1035]  Mockapetris, P., "Domain names - implementation and
              specification", STD 13, RFC 1035, November 1987.

   [RFC2119]  Bradner, S., "Key words for use in RFCs to Indicate
              Requirement Levels", BCP 14, RFC 2119, March 1997.




Rose & Wijngaards       Expires November 3, 2008               [Page 14]

Internet-Draft              DNAME Redirection                   May 2008


   [RFC2136]  Vixie, P., Thomson, S., Rekhter, Y., and J. Bound,
              "Dynamic Updates in the Domain Name System (DNS UPDATE)",
              RFC 2136, April 1997.

   [RFC2181]  Elz, R. and R. Bush, "Clarifications to the DNS
              Specification", RFC 2181, July 1997.

   [RFC2671]  Vixie, P., "Extension Mechanisms for DNS (EDNS0)",
              RFC 2671, August 1999.

   [RFC2782]  Gulbrandsen, A., Vixie, P., and L. Esibov, "A DNS RR for
              specifying the location of services (DNS SRV)", RFC 2782,
              February 2000.

   [RFC3597]  Gustafsson, A., "Handling of Unknown DNS Resource Record
              (RR) Types", RFC 3597, September 2003.

   [RFC4033]  Arends, R., Austein, R., Larson, M., Massey, D., and S.
              Rose, "DNS Security Introduction and Requirements",
              RFC 4033, March 2005.

   [RFC4034]  Arends, R., Austein, R., Larson, M., Massey, D., and S.
              Rose, "Resource Records for the DNS Security Extensions",
              RFC 4034, March 2005.

   [RFC4035]  Arends, R., Austein, R., Larson, M., Massey, D., and S.
              Rose, "Protocol Modifications for the DNS Security
              Extensions", RFC 4035, March 2005.

   [RFC4592]  Lewis, E., "The Role of Wildcards in the Domain Name
              System", RFC 4592, July 2006.

9.2.  Informative References

   [RFC1912]  Barr, D., "Common DNS Operational and Configuration
              Errors", RFC 1912, February 1996.

   [RFC2672]  Crawford, M., "Non-Terminal DNS Name Redirection",
              RFC 2672, August 1999.

   [RFC3363]  Bush, R., Durand, A., Fink, B., Gudmundsson, O., and T.
              Hain, "Representing Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6)
              Addresses in the Domain Name System (DNS)", RFC 3363,
              August 2002.

   [RFC4294]  Loughney, J., "IPv6 Node Requirements", RFC 4294,
              April 2006.




Rose & Wijngaards       Expires November 3, 2008               [Page 15]

Internet-Draft              DNAME Redirection                   May 2008


Authors' Addresses

   Scott Rose
   NIST
   100 Bureau Dr.
   Gaithersburg, MD  20899
   USA

   Phone: +1-301-975-8439
   Fax:   +1-301-975-6238
   EMail: scottr@nist.gov


   Wouter Wijngaards
   NLnet Labs
   Kruislaan 419
   Amsterdam  1098 VA
   The Netherlands

   Phone: +31-20-888-4551
   EMail: wouter@nlnetlabs.nl






























Rose & Wijngaards       Expires November 3, 2008               [Page 16]

Internet-Draft              DNAME Redirection                   May 2008


Full Copyright Statement

   Copyright (C) The IETF Trust (2008).

   This document is subject to the rights, licenses and restrictions
   contained in BCP 78, and except as set forth therein, the authors
   retain all their rights.

   This document and the information contained herein are provided on an
   "AS IS" basis and THE CONTRIBUTOR, THE ORGANIZATION HE/SHE REPRESENTS
   OR IS SPONSORED BY (IF ANY), THE INTERNET SOCIETY, THE IETF TRUST AND
   THE INTERNET ENGINEERING TASK FORCE DISCLAIM ALL WARRANTIES, EXPRESS
   OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO ANY WARRANTY THAT THE USE OF
   THE INFORMATION HEREIN WILL NOT INFRINGE ANY RIGHTS OR ANY IMPLIED
   WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.

Intellectual Property

   The IETF takes no position regarding the validity or scope of any
   Intellectual Property Rights or other rights that might be claimed to
   pertain to the implementation or use of the technology described in
   this document or the extent to which any license under such rights
   might or might not be available; nor does it represent that it has
   made any independent effort to identify any such rights.  Information
   on the procedures with respect to rights in RFC documents can be
   found in BCP 78 and BCP 79.

   Copies of IPR disclosures made to the IETF Secretariat and any
   assurances of licenses to be made available, or the result of an
   attempt made to obtain a general license or permission for the use of
   such proprietary rights by implementers or users of this
   specification can be obtained from the IETF on-line IPR repository at
   http://www.ietf.org/ipr.

   The IETF invites any interested party to bring to its attention any
   copyrights, patents or patent applications, or other proprietary
   rights that may cover technology that may be required to implement
   this standard.  Please address the information to the IETF at
   ietf-ipr@ietf.org.

Acknowledgement

   Funding for the RFC Editor function is provided by the IETF
   Administrative Support Activity (IASA).







Rose & Wijngaards       Expires November 3, 2008               [Page 17]