I've changed the subject line because, if this turns into a discussion, it will be a different one... --On Wednesday, 12 December, 2007 22:22 -0800 Dave Crocker <dhc2@xxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote: >... > 2. If the machines the DNS entries point to are, themselves, a > single point of failure, it's not clear how much difference it > really makes to have the DNS servers distributed. AFAIK, this is part of a long-standing discussion in the IETF and the broader community. One view is that one I think you are stating above, i.e., if the services cannot be reached and used, then it doesn't make any difference whether the DNS records are accessible or not. The other is that knowing that the hosts exist (i.e., that one did not commit a typing or memory error) is useful information even if the services cannot be reached is useful information and that the original DNS recommendations about no fate sharing remain reasonable and valid. If anything, that recommendation becomes more important in these days in which various entities feel free to snag failed DNS queries and divert the responses to point to places of their choosing. IMO, it would be really helpful if relevant WGs or other groups concerned with DNS operations and configurations would take the question up again, review it, and make some sort of definitive contemporary statement (even if that were only "it depends" with an explanation of the tradeoffs). john _______________________________________________ Ietf@xxxxxxxx https://www1.ietf.org/mailman/listinfo/ietf