Root Zone Management System Parallel Testing
Status of Parallel Testing5 July 2016: The parallel testing period successfully completed on July 5, 2016. During the testing period, there were no unexplained differences in the root zone files generated from the production and parallel test systems. |
Overview
In a letter sent on March 4, 2015, NTIA officially requested that Verisign and ICANN work together to develop a proposal on how best to transition NTIA’s administrative role associated with root zone management in a manner that maintains the security, stability, and resiliency of the Internet’s DNS.
In the proposal submitted to NTIA in August 2015, ICANN and Verisign proposed a parallel testing period to confirm that the production Root Zone Management System (RZMS) and the parallel test version of the RZMS (that has had the NTIA authorization step removed) produced identical output for every root zone file published.
The parallel testing would take place over a continuous 90-day period and would be considered successful as long as no unexplained differences in root zone files were identified between the production and parallel test RZMS. In the event that an unexplained difference was found, the issue(s) would be addressed and the 90-day parallel testing period would be restarted.
Before the parallel testing period could begin, ICANN and Verisign spent a period of time making necessary system code changes to remove NTIA’s authorization step and prepare for parallel testing. After the code changes were completed, the parallel testing period started on April 6, 2016. During the 90-day testing period, daily comparison reports of the zone files were published on Verisign’s website. Additionally, monthly summary reports were also made available (below).
The parallel testing period successfully completed on July 5, 2016. During the testing period, there were no unexplained differences in the root zone files generated from the production and parallel test systems.
The successful completion of the 90-day parallel testing period is a key step in ensuring the continued secure and stable operation of the Internet’s root zone post-transition.
Monthly Reports on RZMS Parallel Testing Progress
Monthly Report | Publishing Date |
RZMS Parallel Testing Monthly Report - 05Apr16 to 05May16 | 09-May-16 |
RZMS Parallel Testing Monthly Report - 06May16 to 05Jun16 | 23-Jun-16 |
RZMS Parallel Testing Monthly Report - 05Jun16 to 05Jul16 | 25-Jul-16 |