Network Working Group D. Eastlake
Request for Comments: 2606 A. Panitz
BCP: 32 June 1999
Category: Best Current Practice
Reserved Top Level DNS Names
Status of this Memo
This document specifies an Internet Best Current Practices for the
Internet Community, and requests discussion and suggestions for
improvements. Distribution of this memo is unlimited.
Copyright Notice
Copyright (C) The Internet Society (1999). All Rights Reserved.
Abstract
To reduce the likelihood of conflict and confusion, a few top level
domain names are reserved for use in private testing, as examples in
documentation, and the like. In addition, a few second level domain
names reserved for use as examples are documented.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction............................................1
2. TLDs for Testing, & Documentation Examples..............2
3. Reserved Example Second Level Domain Names..............2
4. IANA Considerations.....................................3
5. Security Considerations.................................3
References.................................................3
Authors' Addresses.........................................4
Full Copyright Statement...................................5
1. Introduction
The global Internet Domain Name System is documented in [RFC 1034,
1035, 1591] and numerous additional Requests for Comment. It defines
a tree of names starting with root, ".", immediately below which are
top level domain names such as ".com" and ".us". Below top level
domain names there are normally additional levels of names.
Eastlake & Panitz Best Current Practice [Page 1]
RFC 2606 Reserved Top Level DNS Names June 1999 2. TLDs for Testing, & Documentation Examples There is a need for top level domain (TLD) names that can be used for creating names which, without fear of conflicts with current or future actual TLD names in the global DNS, can be used for private testing of existing DNS related code, examples in documentation, DNS related experimentation, invalid DNS names, or other similar uses. For example, without guidance, a site might set up some local additional unused top level domains for testing of its local DNS code and configuration. Later, these TLDs might come into actual use on the global Internet. As a result, local attempts to reference the real data in these zones could be thwarted by the local test versions. Or test or example code might be written that accesses a TLD that is in use with the thought that the test code would only be run in a restricted testbed net or the example never actually run. Later, the test code could escape from the testbed or the example be actually coded and run on the Internet. Depending on the nature of the test or example, it might be best for it to be referencing a TLD permanently reserved for such purposes. To safely satisfy these needs, four domain names are reserved as listed and described below. .test .example .invalid .localhost ".test" is recommended for use in testing of current or new DNS related code. ".example" is recommended for use in documentation or as examples. ".invalid" is intended for use in online construction of domain names that are sure to be invalid and which it is obvious at a glance are invalid. The ".localhost" TLD has traditionally been statically defined in host DNS implementations as having an A record pointing to the loop back IP address and is reserved for such use. Any other use would conflict with widely deployed code which assumes this use. 3. Reserved Example Second Level Domain Names The Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA) also currently has the following second level domain names reserved which can be used as examples. Eastlake & Panitz Best Current Practice [Page 2]
RFC 2606 Reserved Top Level DNS Names June 1999 example.com example.net example.org 4. IANA Considerations IANA has agreed to the four top level domain name reservations specified in this document and will reserve them for the uses indicated. 5. Security Considerations Confusion and conflict can be caused by the use of a current or future top level domain name in experimentation or testing, as an example in documentation, to indicate invalid names, or as a synonym for the loop back address. Test and experimental software can escape and end up being run against the global operational DNS. Even examples used "only" in documentation can end up being coded and released or cause conflicts due to later real use and the possible acquisition of intellectual property rights in such "example" names. The reservation of several top level domain names for these purposes will minimize such confusion and conflict. References [RFC 1034] Mockapetris, P., "Domain names - concepts and facilities", STD 13, RFC 1034, November 1987. [RFC 1035] Mockapetris, P., "Domain names - implementation and specification", STD 13, RFC 1035, November 1987. [RFC 1591] Postel, J., "Domain Name System Structure and Delegation", RFC 1591, March 1994. Eastlake & Panitz Best Current Practice [Page 3]
RFC 2606 Reserved Top Level DNS Names June 1999 Authors' Addresses Donald E. Eastlake 3rd IBM 65 Shindegan Hill Road, RR #1 Carmel, NY 10512 Phone: +1 914-276-1668(h) +1 914-784-7913(w) FAX: +1 914-784-3833(3) EMail: dee3@us.ibm.com Aliza R. Panitz 500 Stamford Dr. No. 310 Newark, DE 19711 USA Phone: +1 302-738-1554 EMail: buglady@fuschia.net Eastlake & Panitz Best Current Practice [Page 4]
RFC 2606 Reserved Top Level DNS Names June 1999
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Acknowledgement
Funding for the RFC Editor function is currently provided by the
Internet Society.
Eastlake & Panitz Best Current Practice [Page 5]
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