I understand "cache-only" or "caching-only" DNS server as being, strictly speaking, one which loads *no* authoritative data. Typically, this is a resolver which populates its cache by initially priming with some "root hints" configuration, and then walking down the namespace hierarchy via iterative queries for everything else, but I suppose, arguably, a forwarder could also qualify as a "cache-only" or "caching-only" DNS server too. Sometimes I've heard the term -- despite being absolute -- being bent to include nameservers which only load a *minimal*, "convenience" set of authoritative zones, e.g. for "localhost", "1.0.0.127.in-addr.arpa", zones of that nature, each of which are usually intended to provide resolution for a single, non-globally-unique name.
A "stub zone" is one in which the source of zone information -- typically in the form of IP addresses from which to fetch the data -- is defined statically within the nameserver configuration, but *not* involving full replication of the zone *or* recursive resolution towards that source, hence distinguishing it from being a slave for the zone, or engaging in any form of "forwarding", respectively. Because there is no full replication, whatever contents of the zone exist on the instance configured as a "stub" for it, are not considered "authoritative" and the instance does not respond authoritatively for the zone. - Kevin -----Original Message----- From: DNSOP [mailto:dnsop-boun...@ietf.org] On Behalf Of Paul Hoffman Sent: Tuesday, February 24, 2015 1:53 PM To: Declan Ma Cc: IETF DNSOP WG Subject: Re: [DNSOP] New version of the DNS terminology draft On Jan 20, 2015, at 7:56 AM, Declan Ma <m...@zdns.cn> wrote: > As for 'DNS Servers', I think we should set aside space for 'Cache-only DNS > Server' which is pervasive in all kinds of DNS document. Can you clarify what you think a "cache-only DNS server" is? I'm not seeing how a server can be cache-only without it also doing recursive queries. > And as in 'Zones', you mentioned 'Origin'. So, I suggest adding a paragraph > to describe 'Default TTL', which is represented as $TTL in zone file. We can add that. > Still, 'Stub Zone' is yet another common expression in DNS context. We may > put it into this document. I don't find "stub zone" mentioned in any RFC, so I can't really imagine what that is. Please clarify. --Paul Hoffman _______________________________________________ DNSOP mailing list DNSOP@ietf.org https://www.ietf.org/mailman/listinfo/dnsop _______________________________________________ DNSOP mailing list DNSOP@ietf.org https://www.ietf.org/mailman/listinfo/dnsop