Split roots (was: Can someone explain forwarders and why I don't need them?)

[Simon Hobson]

Herb Martin wrote:

>Forwarders are needed in three cases:
>
>     1) Separate (disjoint) namespaces with different roots*
>         (e.g., THE Intennet and another internal root with child domains)
>         A DNS server can only use one separately rooted namespace
>         (without assistance from something like a forwarder.)



>*It takes special configuration of BIND (etc) to do this one reliably --
>MS DNS (through 2003) does not support the necessary configuration.

Can you elaborate on what is required to do this ?

I assume you are referring to a setup where there are a number of 
'internal' domains, and these are resolved by re-defining the root 
nameservers to a number of 'internal' root servers. I was considering 
whether this would be suitable for our parents network, but could not 
see a mechanism that would allow us top redefine the root server but 
still be able to resolve 'anything else' via the real root servers.

We have a global frame relay network, joining perhaps 20 different 
organisations, all with different DNS setups, domain names, etc. At 
present we are looking at defining everyone elses domains as stub or 
slave zones which I think will be a maintenance headache long term.

Simon

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Simon Hobson, Technology Specialist
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