root.zone.gz : could it be used to replace root.hints ?

[Jim Reid]

>>>>> "Olivier" == Olivier M <XM> writes:

    Olivier> Just had to get the root.cache file, and on
    Olivier> ftp://rs.internic.net/domain, I noticed a few other
    Olivier> files. For example, the

    Olivier> root.zone.gz - gzipped root zone file

    Olivier> one, which is updated daily, and contains all information
    Olivier> for top level name servers (net, ch, com, fr...).

    Olivier> Would it be a good idea to replace my little root.cache
    Olivier> by this bigger root.zone ? (with daily updates) ? 

It wouldn't hurt, but why bother? The first thing most name servers do
when they start is be to send a query to one of the name servers in
the root.cache file to find out where the root servers are. It can
then query those servers to get up to date details of the root zone.
If you use the Internic's root.zone file to make yourself a root
server, it doesn't buy you much. You also have the hassle of keeping
your copy of the root zone in sync with the real one. Given that most
name servers rarely consult the root zone - perhaps once every day or
so for a TLD - there doesn't seem much point keeping a local copy of
the root zone. After all, name servers already keep track of the root
zone automatically without needing to keep a local copy of it.

    Olivier> And what about the

    Olivier> inaddr.zone.gz - gzipped inaddr zone file

Don't bother with that either for the same reasons. Your name server
won't need all that info and keeping your server in sync with the
Internic's copy of in-addr.arpa will be more bother than it's worth.