Re: TLD Managers and Wildcard Ethics

[Michael StJohns <mstjohns@mindspring.com>]

Hi Keith  -


At 12:56 9/16/2003, Keith Moore wrote:
> > An interesting point, but
> probably one better made to ICANN.  Try 
> > icann@icann.org.  Since its not a standards or protocol issue
> its
> > probably not an IETF issue.
>
> I disagree that this is not a protocol issue, as it certainly
> affects
> operation of protocols.  There are probably issues for the DNS
> protocols
> also - if nothing else it may be that some claification of the
> specification is needed. 

I agree that there may be protocol issues, but the email specifically
went:

I think that managers of the TLD's should not be allow to use wild card

RR's in this manner. 

The remainder of the email was in the same vein.  That's an
operational or policy issue best addressed elsewhere - and when resolved
we should take a whack at the protocol implications.  E.g. how do we
get the protocol to enforce the policy or does the policy break the
robustness principle, etc..



> It can be quite reasonable to make
> wildcard assertions about RRs that
> are all within the same administrative domain, but arguably this
> condition is not met for the COM or NET zones.

Agreed - but again, unless it breaks the protocol or has an adverse
impact on robustness, (and not just some number of bottom lines) its
probably better to resolve the policy issue before putting fingers on the
protocol.

If someone wants to bang on DNS absent policy discussions - this may be
the right place to start, with a very quick trip to namedroppers once the
relevance was established.

My $.02...

Mike