C.3.2.3 "TXT" Records

The TXT resource record allows for free text to be associated with a host entry. You may provide almost any type of information you wish, such as details about the applications in use on a specific system, or the geographical location of the system, or the users of that system and their phone numbers.

DNS servers based on BIND use the format shown in Figure C.12 for the TXT resource record:

 Greywolf  IN  TXT  "DNS, SMTP and POP3 mail server for" 
           IN  TXT  "Unoverica's West Coast office."

Figure C.12 Sample "TXT" records for a host.

The TXT resource record can span multiple lines, as in the example above. Because they are all under the "Greywolf" host, they are all associated with that entry, and are read and returned in sequence.

TXT records can also be assigned to an entire domain, just as MX records can be as illustrated in section C.3.2.2 "MX" Records. This allows you to provide street addresses, telephone numbers, and other information about the domain to any interested party. For example, the resource records shown in Figure C.13 provide general information about Unoverica Corporation to anyone with a DNS client:

 UNOVERICA.COM.  IN  TXT  "6731 Banner Lake Circle"
                 IN  TXT  "Suite 12206"
                 IN  TXT  "Orlando, FL  32821-9392"
                 IN  TXT  "Tel: +1-407-238-2310"
                 IN  TXT  "Fax: +1-407-238-2565"
                 IN  TXT  "Web: http://www.unoverica.com/"
                 IN  TXT  "E-Mail: postmaster@unoverica.com"

Figure C.13 Complex "TXT" records for a domain.

This information would not normally be displayed - or be of much use - in day-to-day DNS queries. However, if a remote network administrator is attempting to debug connectivity problems with your site, then they may explicitly query your DNS server for information about your domain. At that point, this information would be displayed, providing them the ability to contact you directly.

For more information about the Address record, refer to section C.3.2.1 "A" Records. For more information about the Mail Exchange record, refer to section C.3.2.2 "MX" Records. For more information about the Alias record, refer to section C.3.2.4 "CNAME" Records. For more information about DNS' architecture, refer to section C.3.1 DNS' Hierarchy.

Copyright © 1997, Unoverica Corporation. All rights reserved. Unauthorized use prohibited.