Re: rsync vs. axfr-clarify (was: in support of axfr-clarify)

[Doug Barton <DougB@DougBarton.net>]

On Tue, 10 Dec 2002, D. J. Bernstein wrote:

> In fact, even though BIND makes it unnecessarily difficult to set up,
> this is an extremely popular configuration. AXFR today has two main uses:
>
>    (1) as a clumsy mechanism of replicating servers and
>    (2) as a clumsy mechanism of editing zone files remotely.
>
> Except at companies that sell third-party DNS service, there's very
> little demand for any type of replication other than server replication.
> Yes, we can all point to examples such as arpa-vs.-root-servers.net, but
> those examples are the fringe case.

I have to disagree. I am the DNS administrator for a fairly large
enterprise, and I'm also responsible for the name servers used in our DNS
reselling program. I have roughly 200 name servers, in dozens of
geographic locations all over the world, some authoritative, most
resolvers. I have several different masters, each with a unique subset of
zones it's responsible for. Each of the slaves sucks down some zones from
the various masters, but no single server gets all the zones from any of
the masters.

In short, while there are subsets of slaves that all have the same
configurations, there isn't anyplace in my company where the concept of
"server replication" would apply. AXFR is crucial to the success of my
configuration(s). Note, I haven't even touched on the issue of sharing
information with third parties, whether I'm slaving from them, or they are
slaving from me (I have some of each).

Now you can argue whether or not I'm a "typical" user, or whether all the
gymnastics are actually needed. (In fact, the current configuration is
both simpler and more reliable than when I took over, but I digress.)
However, AXFR definitely provides me the flexibility I need to deal with
my situation (as I perceive it).

-- 
   "We have known freedom's price. We have shown freedom's power.
      And in this great conflict, ...  we will see freedom's victory."
	- George W. Bush, President of the United States
          State of the Union, January 28, 2002

         Do YOU Yahoo!?


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