DNS Zone Serial Format...

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#1 Sun, 02/22/2009 - 19:51
tpnsolutions
tpnsolutions's picture

DNS Zone Serial Format...

Hi,

I've search far and wide across these forums, and apologize in advance if I missed a thread which may address this question.

======

ISSUE

When I create new domains, the default bind zone "serial" is a "unix timestamp" instead of the standards compliant "YYYYmmddnn" format.

Naturally, I realize most formats will not break DNS itself, however I'm quite fond of the latter format, as it not only is in compliance with standards, but also lets me know if my zones are correctly updating.

Anyways, I've read through the documentation and came across what appears to be a partial solution.

It seems you can use substitution variables inside zone templates such as:

${CURRENT_YEAR} ${CURRENT_MONTH} ${CURRENT_DAY}

So in theory, using these substitutes I could create what I mentioned above a "partial" solution which would end up taking care of:

YYYYmmdd

However, in the event I need to do multiple zone updates in a single day, I would like to utilize the uniqueness of "nn" at the end giving me a nice "YYYYmmddnn" format.

If anyone can point me in the direction of a solution, I would greatly appreciate this.

I really love what the team has done with Virtualmin, as I have watched the progression of the project since day one. It's come quite a ways, and now I have officially switched from "Plesk" to "Virtualmin". (you've got my vote)

-- Best Regards, Peter

Mon, 02/23/2009 - 04:36
andreychek

Hi Peter,

There's actually an easier way!

If you go into Webmin -> Servers -> BIND DNS Server -> Module Config, choose Zone File Options from the dropdown, and from there you can set "Serial number style" to "Date based (YYYYMMDDnn)".
-Eric

Mon, 02/23/2009 - 09:52 (Reply to #2)
tpnsolutions
tpnsolutions's picture

Doh! Can't believe I overlooked that section...

Thanks!

- Peter

Best Regards,
Peter Knowles | TPN Solutions
Email: pknowles@tpnsolutions.com | Skype: tpnassist
Mon, 02/23/2009 - 11:45 (Reply to #3)
cyrus

<b>andreychek wrote:</b>
<div class='quote'>If you go into Webmin -&gt; Servers -&gt; BIND DNS Server -&gt; Module Config, choose Zone File Options from the dropdown, and from there you can set &quot;Serial number style&quot; to &quot;Date based (YYYYMMDDnn)&quot;.</div>

After one does this and applies the changes to BIND, how does one apply this date based serial number style to all existing BIND DNS Server configurations? .. as the change would only apply to new BIND setups after applying those changes.. I guess?

Mon, 02/23/2009 - 11:48 (Reply to #4)
andreychek

I don't know that you're able to, you'd either have to manually change those, or write up a script to do so. Sorry!
-Eric

Thu, 05/30/2013 - 11:01 (Reply to #5)
Thaldan

this option is only on the pro version? i can't see it in the GPL version

Thu, 05/30/2013 - 12:13 (Reply to #6)
andreychek

Howdy,

That option is part of Webmin, rather than Virtualmin, so it doesn't require the Pro version of Virtualmin.

I just verified that I still see the option there at Webmin -> Servers -> BIND DNS Server -> Module Config -> Zone File Options.

What is it you're not seeing -- are you unable to get to the Zone File Options screen? Or can you get there, but you aren't seeing the "Serial number style" option?

-Eric

Wed, 02/25/2009 - 11:07
sfatula

Why do you think the timestamp is not a valid format? Reading RFC1034, I do not see that at all.

In reading O&quot;Reilly DNS and BIND book, they have examples of serial numbers such as 100. That is also valid as far as I know.

I would think any client who rejects non date type serials is buggy.

Now, RFC1912 does recommend it, but recommend is not required.

Wed, 02/25/2009 - 13:04 (Reply to #8)
Joe
Joe's picture

Yes, Steve's right. Any number that increments with each change is standards compliant. Dates are a popular choice, but they are certainly not the only valid format for the serial number...which is why Webmin supports all sorts of formats (and will try to do the right thing with existing serial numbers, as well).

--

Check out the forum guidelines!

Mon, 06/25/2012 - 07:54
oranjbox

I've found a quick way to update after changing the serial format so all dns records contain the newly selected format is to go to [webmin] -> [BIND DNS Server] then select all the dns zones and click [Update Records In Selected] - I then chose to adjust the TTL to the same value that it already was, which updated all the record files.

Tue, 03/10/2015 - 08:53
pete007

I found this thread searching for an answer to how to change the SOA Serial # to YYYYmmddnn

And it gives the answer perfectly but I cannot find -

Webmin -> Servers -> BIND DNS Server -> Module Config -> 'Zone File Options'

Is it still there and if so how can I find it - if it isn't still there how else can I alter the settings for it?

The closest match is: Zone Defaults and you can set the refresh time and expiry time there but I cannot see anything about the serial number settings there...

Many thanks

Pete...

Tue, 03/10/2015 - 09:04
pete007

P.S. Another very quick and useful way to update all DNS records on all domains quickly I found from another thread is -

virtualmin disable-feature --dns --all-domains

virtualmin enable-feature --dns --all-domains

Thu, 05/28/2015 - 06:59 (Reply to #12)
albanc99

P.S. Another very quick and useful way to update all DNS records on all domains quickly I found from another thread is - virtualmin disable-feature --dns --all-domains virtualmin enable-feature --dns --all-domains

Do not follow this advice unless you are using only the autoconfigured DNS records. This resets all the defined zones and thus erases all the custom records you had patiently set up. It also disables the DMARC records for what I could see, and likely the Domainkeys too.

Wed, 07/08/2015 - 15:49
sz00gun

Hi,

as you said andreychek above:

    I just verified that I still see the option there at Webmin -> Servers -> BIND DNS Server -> Module Config -> Zone File Options

I am blind a bit, and I cannot see it, please have a look the screen shot.

After 5 hours finding - founded! it is on the left top icon button... there are more settings...

Thanks for the webmin! One day we beat Plesk and DirectAdmin and cPanel etc. ;)

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