asked on

Strange Serial Numbers

I have a strange fact I didn't understand, when creating those DNS domains files at /var/named directory.

I have a Script who generates those small files, and in the Serial info it composes a number who is formed by:

YYYYMMDDhhmmss

Well, it works without problem, with one exception: it generates a Serial number in the file, but when we nslookup the Domain, it shows another Serial number.

Please, try this domain:

nslookup -type=Soa areadeteste.com.br 200.201.129.12

It returns the Serial Number 364478947 but inside the areadeteste.com.br DNS file, the Serial number is 20010617111011.

When I used as Serial a number with less digits, the nslookup showed the right number.

Questions:

. Is there a limitation in the lenght of the Serial Number? Could it be the reason?

. Where does it take the other Serial number from?

. Any idea about the problem?

Thanks a lot.

Mario Lima./

ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION

vsamtani

membership

This solution is only available to members.

To access this solution, you must be a member of Experts Exchange.

Start Free Trial

multisites

ASKER

Yeah, that's it. I will find another way, maybe taking out the century part of the year. Thanks a lot.

vsamtani

You're welcome, and glad to have helped. I would recommend that you keep the century part of the year for your serial numbers, and instead drop the minutes and seconds.

YYYYMMDDnn is a de-facto standard for serial numbers of SOA records, and 2001061711 (1100 hrs, 17 June 2001) is a perfectly acceptable serial number.

Vijay