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RFC 8482 / MINIMAL DNS ANSWERS

Cache normal records and choose TTL with care

04

An initiator can cache the answer normally. A time to live, TTL, limits how long the cached record remains usable; it is not a permanent ban on asking a name.

RFC 8482 · § 5EXAMPLE
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Cache normal records and choose TTL with careA fictional matching-name HINFO is cached with operator TTL60seconds. At elapsed20seconds remainingTTL40permits illustrated local reuse for ANY; at elapsed60remainingTTL0ends this cached-record reuse. Reuse/suppression is optional, not a permanent ban. Genuine HINFO masking is a separate documented risk.The chosen TTL has expiredInitiator cacheResponderCached: lab.example HINFOTTL 60 s · elapsed 60 s · left 0 sIllustrative TTL, not a required defaultexpired reuse stoppedNew work follows normal DNS and policy
03
Expire the cached record instead of extending policy forever.

At elapsed 60 seconds the illustrated TTL reaches zero. That cached record no longer supports this reuse decision. Any new query follows ordinary DNS and local policy; the page does not issue network requests.

Source for this drawing: RFC 8482 · Read RFC section 5 ↗

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KEY POINT

Normal caching and optional suppression can reduce repeated ANY work without claiming a complete record list.

  • An initiator receiving HINFO or a single RRset as described MAY cache it; cached records SHOULD be retained using normal caching semantics.
  • With a matching cached HINFO CPU marker, an initiator MAY suppress ANY queries or MAY answer them with local cache contents. This is optional behavior, not a new mandatory refusal or permanent server-wide block.
  • The synthesized HINFO TTL SHOULD be operator-configurable and chosen large enough to suppress frequent repeated ANY queries; too long a TTL can delay policy changes (§4.2).
  • Cached synthesized HINFO can also mask a real HINFO RRset in the zone. Operators relying on genuine HINFO SHOULD choose the single-RRset method or another type (§6).
DETAILS

The worked TTL of 60 seconds is fictional local policy, not a required default. The example assumes the same matching name and applicable cached record. Ordinary DNS cache rules and validation remain outside this bounded countdown.

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