question about serial numbers

[Craig Dupree]

Bill Manning wrote:
> 
> >
> > Hi. Maybe someone can help...
> > Suppose someone accidently set a serial number higher than the date
> > (lets say they set it for the year two thousand) is there any way you
> > can make it lower again??
> > thanks
> >
> >
> 
> the SOA is a signed integer, not a date
> RFC 1982 (if memory serves) will be of great help.

Somebody who thinks about the question, instead of rattling off a 
"Read the RFC" answer would probably help, too.  

For our SOA serial number we use the format YYMMDDN ( N being the
Nth update performed that day ).  Presuming this is case here, and
the date was set wrong on the primary, then updating it alone will
not work because the secondary will refuse to accept it.

So:

1) Set the serial number of the primary.
2) Go to the secondary, and rename it's copies of the zone files ( the
   ones it writes when it does an transfer ).
3) Restart the primary followed by the secondary.

When the primary restarts it will re-read it's files, which will now
have the lower value.  When the secondary restarts it will not find any
files, and will go back to the primary for a zone transfer.  

--
     /^^^\      Craig Dupree                Academic Computing Services
    /~O~O~\     Network Support Specialist  Univ. Texas at Arlington 
    \  U  /     cdupree at uta.edu             PO Box 19318
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