>Thanks William,
>
>But do you mean that they contain the complete zone files for all the
>.com,.net and .org
>domains or the NS records only, and is there any separator between each
>successive domains?
They are standard, RFC-compatible zone files just like you have on your own
BIND DNS.
The respective zone files contain the "delegation data" aka "NS records"
for every domain in the .com, .net, or .org zones, plus the "glue records"
aka "A records" for those NS hosts. That�s why you cannot change the NS
host�s A records in your zone data unilaterally, because the zone�s parent
must have its glue records changed, or you�ll end up with lame, broken
delegation.
Delegation from the TLD.net server to you (via NS and A records) is exactly
like your own zones files when you delegate forward authority to a child
zone for one of your zones.
Likewise, going in the upward direction from the xTLD.net servers, the
root-servers.net zone files contain the delegation + glue data for the gTLD
and ccTLD zones. ie, a heck of a lot smaller than the gTLD zone files.
Len
http://MenAndMice.com/DNS-training
http://BIND8NT.MEIway.com : ISC BIND 8.2.4 for NT4 & W2K
http://IMGate.MEIway.com : Build free, hi-perf, anti-abuse mail gateways
