TXT records in mavericks server

Question

TXT records in mavericks server

I am trying to create a TXT DNS record in Server 3.02. I have read the docs and followed the steps in there. They state that creating a service record is the way to create a TXT record, but no matter how many times I try no record is ever created!

Has anyone tried this in Server? Is there a way I can just go the the Command Line and modify a file? If so (and I'm sure you can), which file is 'managed' by the DNSsection of Server?

Mac mini, OS X Server, Mavericks and Server 3.0

Posted on Feb 10, 2014 8:00 AM

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Answer 1

Feb 10, 2014 9:55 AM in response to DragonTeacher

If you use Server.app, follow these steps:

1: Select DNS from the list of services

2: Click the Gear action button and select "Show All Records"

3: Press the Plus button (which is now a menu) and select Add Machine Record

4: Complete the fields, adding your TXT value in the Text box.

This will add the TXT record next to the A record and the values will look like this in the zone file:

happy.carbontechnologies.com. 10800 IN A 172.16.0.254

10800 IN TXT "hello"

If you want to manually add these, then look in /Library/Server/named for your zone files. Be mindful that modification outside Server.app may result in odd behaviors.

R-

Apple Consultants Network

Apple Professional Services

Author "Mavericks Server – Foundation Services" :: Exclusively available in Apple's iBooks Store

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Answer 2

Feb 12, 2014 12:55 PM in response to Strontium90

Thanks for the assistance. I tried the "Add Machine Record" path, but unfortunately the license server vendor has prefaced their information with an underscore(_) and Server won't let you input that character. It also forces you to create an A record for the same entry (not a problem, but unnecessary in this case).

I was forced to edit the db.mydomainname.com file and add the underscore. This removed the entry from Server's DNS window.

Now to try the license server auto discovery and see if it all works!

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Answer 3

Feb 12, 2014 6:25 PM in response to DragonTeacher

Ah yes. The curse of non-alphanumeric characters... The same can be said for the @ record.

I will admit, this is probably Apple's best DNS implementation but the lack of acceptable character support drags it down.

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Answer 4

Feb 14, 2014 9:56 AM in response to Strontium90

Just wanted to close the loop. Editing the db.mydomainname.com file to add the underscore did work properly!

As for the lack of special character support... Yes, Apple should allow all 'valid' characters, but I also think the the jetbrains license server shouldn't use special characters in their discovery domain names either. Proving that two wrongs REALLY don't make a right!! ;-)

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Answer 5

mbresink

Level 1

54 points

Feb 15, 2014 3:12 AM in response to DragonTeacher

You mean they are using an underscore in a DNS name? This is clearly against the rules and violates RFC 1035. The only special character allowed here is a hyphen ("-", next to the standard characters A..Z, a..z, 0..9).

So the behavior of Apple's DNS GUI is absolutely correct.

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