Domain Name System Operations (dnsop) Internet Drafts


      
 Delegation Revalidation by DNS Resolvers
 
 draft-ietf-dnsop-ns-revalidation-14.txt
 Date: 02/09/2026
 Authors: Shumon Huque, Paul Vixie, Willem Toorop
 Working Group: Domain Name System Operations (dnsop)
This document describes an optional algorithm for the processing of Name Server (NS) resource record (RR) sets (RRsets) during iterative resolution, and describes the benefits and considerations of using this approach. When following a referral response from an authoritative server to a child zone, DNS resolvers should explicitly query the authoritative NS RRset at the apex of the child zone and cache this in preference to the NS RRset on the parent side of the zone cut. The (A and AAAA) address RRsets in the additional section from referral responses and authoritative NS answers for the names of the NS RRset, should similarly be re-queried and used to replace the entries with the lower trustworthiness ranking in cache. Resolvers should also periodically revalidate the delegation by re-querying the parent zone at the expiration of the shortest TTL among the parent NS RRset, the DS RRset (if present), and the child NS RRset.
 DNSSEC automation
 
 draft-ietf-dnsop-dnssec-automation-05.txt
 Date: 05/07/2026
 Authors: Ulrich Wisser, Shumon Huque, Johan Stenstam
 Working Group: Domain Name System Operations (dnsop)
This document describes an algorithm and protocol to automate the setup, operations, and decommissioning of Multi-Signer DNSSEC [RFC8901] configurations. To accomplish this, it employs Model 2 of the multi-signer specification (where each operator has their own distinct KSK and ZSK sets, or CSK sets), management of DS records from the parent via CDS/CDNSKEY [RFC8078], and Child-to-Parent Synchronization in DNS [RFC7477].
 Domain Control Validation using DNS
 
 draft-ietf-dnsop-domain-verification-techniques-13.txt
 Date: 21/06/2026
 Authors: Shivan Sahib, Shumon Huque, Paul Wouters, Erik Nygren, Tim Wicinski
 Working Group: Domain Name System Operations (dnsop)
Many application services on the Internet need to verify ownership or control of a domain in the Domain Name System (DNS). The general term for this process is "Domain Control Validation", and it can be done using a variety of methods such as email, HTTP/HTTPS, or the DNS itself. This document focuses only on DNS-based methods, which typically involve the Application Service Provider requesting a DNS record with a specific format and content to be visible in the domain to be verified. There is wide variation in the details of these methods today. This document provides some best practices to avoid known problems.
 Structured Error Data for Filtered DNS
 
 draft-ietf-dnsop-structured-dns-error-27.txt
 Date: 29/07/2026
 Authors: Dan Wing, Tirumaleswar Reddy.K, Neil Cook, Mohamed Boucadair
 Working Group: Domain Name System Operations (dnsop)
DNS filtering is widely deployed for various reasons, including network security and policy enforcement. However, filtered DNS responses lack structured information for end users to understand the reason for the filtering. Existing mechanisms to provide explanatory details to end users cause harm especially if the blocked DNS response is for HTTPS resources. This document updates RFC 8914 by signaling client support for structuring the EXTRA-TEXT field of the Extended DNS Error to provide details on the DNS filtering. Such details can be parsed by the client and displayed, logged, or used for other purposes.
 Multiple Algorithm Rules in DNSSEC
 
 draft-huque-dnsop-multi-alg-rules-08.txt
 Date: 06/07/2026
 Authors: Shumon Huque, Peter Thomassen, Viktor Dukhovni, Duane Wessels, Christian Elmerot
 Working Group: Domain Name System Operations (dnsop)
This document restates the requirements on DNSSEC signing and validation and makes small adjustments in order to allow for more flexible handling of configurations that advertise multiple Secure Entry Points (SEP) with different signing algorithms via their DS record or trust anchor set. The adjusted rules allow both for multi- signer operation and for the transfer of signed DNS zones between providers, where the providers support disjoint DNSSEC algorithm sets. In addition, the proposal enables pre-publication of a trust anchor in preparation for an algorithm rollover, such as of the root zone. This document updates RFCs 4035 and 6840.
 Greasing Protocol Extension Points in the DNS
 
 draft-ietf-dnsop-grease-03.txt
 Date: 06/07/2026
 Authors: Shumon Huque, Mark Andrews
 Working Group: Domain Name System Operations (dnsop)
Long term evolvability of the Domain Name System (DNS) protocol requires the ability to support change. Greasing is one technique that exercises the regular use of unallocated protocol extension points to prevent ossification of their current usage patterns by middleboxes or DNS implementations. This document describes considerations and proposals for applying grease to the DNS protocol. Discussion Venues This note is to be removed before publishing as an RFC. Source for this draft and an issue tracker can be found at https://github.com/ietf-wg-dnsop/draft-ietf-dnsop-grease.
 Signalling a Zone Cut to Nowhere in the DNS
 
 draft-jabley-dnsop-zone-cut-to-nowhere-01.txt
 Date: 24/06/2026
 Authors: Joe Abley, Wes Hardaker, Warren Kumari
 Working Group: Domain Name System Operations (dnsop)
This document defines a standard mechanism to signal the existence of a DNS zone cut without specifying authoritative nameservers for the delegated child zone. This "zone cut to nowhere" is particularly useful in split-horizon environments, allowing parent zones to explicitly signal that a child zone exists but is only resolvable within a private namespace.
 Integration of DNS Domain Names into Application Environments: Motivations and Considerations
 
 draft-ietf-dnsop-integration-04.txt
 Date: 24/07/2026
 Authors: Swapneel Sheth, Andrew Kaizer, Bryan Newbold, N. Johnson
 Working Group: Domain Name System Operations (dnsop)
This document describes considerations when integrating a DNS domain name into an application environment. Goals of this document include minimizing conflicts between the global DNS and applications that integrate with the global DNS, providing a consistent user experience (unique identifier across environments), and avoiding impacts to the security, stability, and resiliency of the global DNS. While all sources of potential concern cannot be enumerated in one document, accounting for at least the considerations discussed here should improve the security posture of both the global DNS and integrating applications.
 dry-run DNSSEC
 
 draft-ietf-dnsop-dry-run-dnssec-01.txt
 Date: 21/06/2026
 Authors: Yorgos Thessalonikefs, Willem Toorop, Roy Arends
 Working Group: Domain Name System Operations (dnsop)
This document describes a method called "dry-run DNSSEC" that allows for testing DNSSEC deployments without affecting the DNS service in case of DNSSEC errors. It accomplishes that by introducing new DS Type Digest Algorithms that when used in every record of a DS RRset, referred to as dry-run DS, signal to validating resolvers that dry- run DNSSEC is used for the zone. DNSSEC errors are then reported with DNS Error Reporting, but any bogus responses to clients are withheld. Instead, validating resolvers fallback from dry-run DNSSEC and provide the response that would have been answered without the presence of the dry-run DS. A further EDNS option is presented for clients to opt-in for dry-run DNSSEC errors and allow for end-to-end DNSSEC testing.
 DNS Protocol Modifications for Delegation Extensions
 
 draft-ietf-dnsop-delext-11.txt
 Date: 17/09/2026
 Authors: Roy Arends, Peter van Dijk, Petr Spacek
 Working Group: Domain Name System Operations (dnsop)
The Domain Name System (DNS) protocol permits Delegation Signer (DS) records at delegation points. This document specifies modifications to the DNS protocol to permit a range of Resource Record types at delegation points. These modifications are designed to maintain compatibility with existing DNS resolution mechanisms and provide a secure method for processing these records at delegation points. This document updates RFCs 1034, 4035, 6672, 6840, 6895 and 9824.
 Automating DNS Delegation Management via DDNS
 
 draft-ietf-dnsop-delegation-mgmt-via-ddns-02.txt
 Date: 17/06/2026
 Authors: Johan Stenstam, Erik Bergstrom, Leon Fernandez
 Working Group: Domain Name System Operations (dnsop)
Delegation information (i.e. the NS RRset, possible glue, possible DS records) should always be kept in sync between child zone and parent zone. However, in practice that is not always the case. When the delegation information is not in sync the child zone is usually working fine, but without the amount of redundancy that the zone owner likely expects to have. Hence, should any further problems ensue it could have catastrophic consequences. The DNS name space has lived with this problem for decades and it never goes away. Or, rather, it will never go away until a fully automated mechanism for how to keep the information in sync automatically is deployed. This document proposes such a mechanism based on DNS Dynamic Updates (DDNS) secured with SIG(0) signatures, sent from the child to the parent across the zone cut. The target of the update is discovered via the DSYNC record defined in [RFC9859]. TO BE REMOVED: This document is being collaborated on in Github at: https://github.com/johanix/draft-ietf-dnsop-delegation-mgmt-via-ddns (https://github.com/johanix/draft-ietf-dnsop-delegation-mgmt-via- ddns). The most recent working version of the document, open issues, etc, should all be available there. The authors (gratefully) accept pull requests.
 DNS Security Extensions (DNSSEC)
 
 draft-ietf-dnsop-rfc9364bis-01.txt
 Date: 14/08/2026
 Authors: Paul Hoffman
 Working Group: Domain Name System Operations (dnsop)
This document describes the DNS Security Extensions (commonly called "DNSSEC") that are specified in RFCs 4033, 4034, and 4035, as well as a handful of others. One purpose is to introduce all of the RFCs in one place so that the reader can understand the many aspects of DNSSEC. This document does not update any of those RFCs. A second purpose is to state that using DNSSEC for origin authentication of DNS data is the best current practice. A third purpose is to provide a single reference for other documents that want to refer to DNSSEC. This document obsoletes RFC 9364. This document is being tracked at (https://github.com/paulehoffman/ rfc9364bis).
 DNSSEC Key Restore
 
 draft-ietf-dnsop-dnssec-keyrestore-02.txt
 Date: 10/08/2026
 Authors: Florian Obser, Martin Pels
 Working Group: Domain Name System Operations (dnsop)
This document describes the issues surrounding the handling of DNSSEC private keys in a DNSSEC signer. It presents operational guidance in case a DNSSEC private key becomes inoperable. Discussion Venues This note is to be removed before publishing as an RFC. Discussion of this document takes place on the Domain Name System Operations Working Group mailing list ([email protected]), which is archived at https://mailarchive.ietf.org/arch/browse/dnsop/. Source for this draft and an issue tracker can be found at https://github.com/ietf-wg-dnsop/draft-ietf-dnsop-dnssec-keyrestore.
 DNS Filtering Transparency
 
 draft-ietf-dnsop-filtering-transparency-00.txt
 Date: 01/08/2026
 Authors: Mark Nottingham, David Adrian
 Working Group: Domain Name System Operations (dnsop)
[I-D.ietf-dnsop-structured-dns-error] introduces structured error data for DNS responses that have been filtered. This specification allows more specific details of filtering incidents to be conveyed. Discussion Venues This note is to be removed before publishing as an RFC. Source for this draft and an issue tracker can be found at https://github.com/mnot/public-resolver-errors.


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Domain Name System Operations (dnsop)

WG Name Domain Name System Operations
Acronym dnsop
Area Operations and Management Area (ops)
State Active
Charter charter-ietf-dnsop-05 Approved
Document dependencies
Additional resources GitHub Organization
DNS DISPATCH
Legacy Jabber Logs
Wiki
Zulip stream
bsky
github
mastodon
twitter
Personnel Chairs Benno Overeinder, Ondřej Surý
Area Director Mohamed Boucadair
Tech Advisor Jim Reid
Secretaries Peter Thomassen, Shumon Huque
Delegate Shumon Huque
Mailing list Address [email protected]
To subscribe http://www.ietf.org/mailman/listinfo/dnsop
Archive https://mailarchive.ietf.org/arch/browse/dnsop/
Chat Room address https://zulip.ietf.org/#narrow/stream/dnsop

Charter for Working Group

The Domain Name System Operations (DNSOP) WG defines and documents the deployment and operational considerations for the DNS protocol. The WG also provides guidance and elaborates best current practices for DNS deployment. DNS topics which are being developed in other IETF WGs are out of scope for the DNSOP WG. These will be published as BCP or Informational RFCs.

DNSOP provides a venue for DNS operators and other interested parties to engage in discussions around the operational requirements of DNS and publish documents. Specifically, the WG welcomes insights from those who wish to share operational experience and challenges as well as discuss other DNS-related matters that are within scope of the WG.

The DNSOP WG is also responsible for maintenance, updates and extensions to the DNS protocol. These will be published as Standard Track or Experimental RFCs.

DNS-related I-Ds that don't have an obvious WG which could adopt them can be submitted to the DNSOP WG for consideration. The DNSOP WG will advise on the appropriate way to progress these I-Ds, for instance by suggesting the most suitable WG or recommending the chartering of a new WG.

The WG will engage with relevant WGs and other appropriate organizations whenever collaboration is needed, especially for WG adoption and Last Calls. DNSOP will liaise with IANA on the management of IANA's DNS-related registries.

Whether the DNS protocol maintenance is better handled by a new WG or be kept in DNSOP will be open for community discussion in 2 years. The WG will recharter in 2 years to take into account the outcome of that discussion.

Milestones

Date Milestone Associated documents
Mar 2026 Submit DNS IPv6 Transport Operational Guidelines to the IESG for Publication as BCP rfc10001 (was draft-ietf-dnsop-3901bis)
Dec 2025 Submit Structured Error Data for Filtered DNS to the IESG for Publication as Proposed Standard draft-ietf-dnsop-structured-dns-error
Nov 2025 Submit Domain Control Validation using DNS to the IESG for Publication as BCP draft-ietf-dnsop-domain-verification-techniques
Oct 2025 Submit Clarifications on CDS/CDNSKEY and CSYNC Consistency to the IESG for Publication as Proposed Standard rfc9975 (was draft-ietf-dnsop-cds-consistency)
Oct 2025 Submit Delegation Revalidation by DNS Resolvers to the IESG for Publication as Proposed Standard draft-ietf-dnsop-ns-revalidation