Internet Naming and Directory Extension (Mini-INDEX) Project
To develop a series of improvements to the Domain Name System (DNS)
implementation and the DNS protocol to make the operation of the DNS
more efficient (e.g. fewer wasted messages in the network) and more
capable (e.g. incremental and dynamic updates).
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Examination of DNS protocols, system operation, and publically
available software to identify shortcomings and potential solutions.
Problem solutions are implemented, tested in a local environment, and
deployed in the official release of the DNS Bind distribution. In
addition, common operational problems are documented along with
suggested solutions, and software releases from other DNS implementors
are independently tested.
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Test and update DNS query tool, 'dig', to be current with most
recent Bind distribution. Revisions to include a method to easily
configure 'dig' to accommodate future additions to resource record
types.
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Evaluate schemes for accommodating configurable resource record
types in the DNS server. This effort (1) will leverage off of the
configurable resource record support to be incorporated in 'dig',
and (2) will include documentation of the current Bind database
implementation. The latter will facilitate any proposed changes
that will significantly impact Bind data representation.
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Test and update DNS configuration tool, 'doc', to be current
with "best current practices" and most recent Bind distribution.
Revisions to include more explicit diagnostics, help messages, and
examples. This is increasingly important with the proliferation
of the Internet and DNS domains.
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Implement and distribute Zone Transfer improvements including:
(1) previous MINDEX study of techniques to reduced zone transfer
overhead, and (2) secured/authenticated transfer of zone data.
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Address the problems of very large zones. This includes (1) design,
evaluation, and development of a proposed scheme to add additional
hierarchy by exploit inherent domain name structure (i.e. alphabetic
indexing), and (2) publication of an informational RFC discussing the
more complex problem (and potential solutions) of collisions in a
large flat namespace.