purpose of root.hint file

[Kevin Darcy]

Peter Matulis wrote:

>I have read in two textbooks that when named starts it uses the
>root.hint file to contact a single server from which it downloads an
>updated root server list.  After this the hint file is never used.
>Now I tried to capture this download with tcpdump and I don't pick it
>up.  Can anyone clarify?
>
I see the lookup on a "snoop". What parameters are you using for 
tcpdump? Also, bear in mind that if you have global forwarding enabled, 
your hints file will be ignored and the "priming" query will be sent to 
the forwarder(s) instead.

- Kevin