In this figure, an administrator at Site Request configures the BIG-IP system to load balance zone transfer requests for siterequest.com to a pool of DNS servers and uses TSIG key authentication only on the client-side.

BIG-IP system load balancing zone transfer requests to a pool of DNS servers with client-side TSIG authentication

1. DNS nameserver (client) sends TSIG-signed zone transfer request.
2. BIG-IP system validates the signature and removes the client TSIG key from the request.
3. BIG-IP system sends unsigned zone transfer request to a member of a pool of DNS servers that host the zone.
4. Pool member answers with an unsigned zone transfer to the BIG-IP system.
5. BIG-IP system signs the response with the client TSIG key.
6. BIG-IP system sends the TSIG-signed zone transfer to the DNS nameserver (client).

In this figure, an administrator at Site Request configures the BIG-IP^® system to load balance zone transfer requests for siterequest.com to a pool of DNS servers, and uses TSIG key authentication on both the client- and server-sides.

BIG-IP system load balancing zone transfer requests to a pool of DNS servers using client-side TSIG authentication

1. DNS nameserver (client) sends TSIG-signed zone transfer request.
2. BIG-IP system validates the signature, removes the client TSIG key from the request, and then adds the server TSIG key to the request.
3. BIG-IP system sends the TSIG-signed request to a member of the pool of DNS servers that host the zone.
4. Pool member answers with a TSIG-signed zone transfer to the BIG-IP system.
5. BIG-IP system validates the signature, removes the server TSIG key from the response, and signs the response with the client TSIG key.
6. BIG-IP system sends the TSIG-signed zone transfer to the DNS nameserver (client).

The BIG-IP^® system can use transaction signature (TSIG) keys to authenticate communications about zone transfers between the BIG-IP system and authoritative DNS servers, and between the BIG-IP system and DNS nameservers (clients). TSIG keys are generated by a third party tool such as BIND's keygen utility. Using TSIG keys is optional.

TSIG key configured on authoritative DNS server

You can add a TSIG key to a nameserver object that represents an authoritative DNS server. With this configuration, when the DNS server sends a NOTIFY message to the BIG-IP system, DNS Express™ responds with a TSIG-signed zone transfer request. Then the DNS server returns a TSIG-signed zone transfer. If required, you can disable the Verify Notify TSIG option on the DNS zone. With this configuration, DNS Express can process a NOTIFY message without a TSIG key, even when a subsequent zone transfer requires a TSIG key.

TSIG key configured on DNS nameserver (client)

You can add a TSIG key to a nameserver object that represents a DNS nameserver (client). When the client sends a TSIG-signed zone transfer request, DNS Express returns a TSIG-signed zone transfer.

TSIG key configured on DNS zone

You can add a server TSIG key to a DNS zone on the BIG-IP system. With this configuration, the system uses this TSIG key when the zone on the BIG-IP system is a proxy for the zone on the server. There are two possible scenarios:

• Client sends TSIG-signed zone transfer request

  When the BIG-IP system receives a TSIG-signed zone transfer request from a client for a DNS zone for which it is a proxy, the system validates the client TSIG key and removes the key from the request. The system then adds the server TSIG key to the request and forwards the TSIG-signed request to the DNS server or load balances the TSIG-signed request to a pool of DNS servers. The DNS server responds with a TSIG-signed zone transfer. The BIG-IP system validates the server TSIG key and removes the key. Then the system adds the client TSIG key and returns a TSIG-signed signed zone transfer to the client.

• Client sends unsigned zone transfer request

  When the BIG-IP system receives an unsigned zone transfer request from a client for a DNS zone for which it is a proxy, the system adds the server TSIG key to the request. The system then forwards the TSIG-signed request to the DNS server or load balances the TSIG-signed request to a pool of DNS servers. The DNS server responds with a TSIG-signed zone transfer. The BIG-IP system validates the server TSIG key and removes the key. Then the system returns an unsigned zone transfer to the client.

A listener is a specialized virtual server that passively checks for DNS packets on port 53 and the IP address you assign to the listener. When a DNS request is sent to the IP address of the listener, the BIG-IP^® system handles the request or forwards the request to the appropriate resource.

1. On the Main tab, click DNS > Delivery > Keys > TSIG Key List .
   The TSIG Key List screen opens.
2. Click Create.
   The New TSIG Key screen opens.
3. In the Name field, type the name of the TSIG key.
4. From the Algorithm list, select the algorithm that was used to generate the key.
5. In the Secret field, type the TSIG key secret.
6. Click Finished.
7. If the DNS nameservers (clients) requesting zone transfers contain a TSIG key, repeat steps 2-7 to add each client TSIG key.

1. On the Main tab, click DNS > Delivery > Nameservers .
   The Nameservers List screen opens.
2. Click Create.
   The New Nameserver screen opens.
3. In the Name field, type a name for the DNS nameserver (client).
4. In the Address field, type the IP address on which the DNS nameserver (client) listens for DNS messages.
5. Optional: From the TSIG Key list, select the TSIG key that matches the TSIG key on the DNS nameserver (client).
   The BIG-IP system uses this TSIG key to authenticate zone transfer communications as coming from this client and to sign communications sent to this client.
6. Click Finished.
7. Add nameserver objects to represent other DNS nameservers (clients).

1. On the Main tab, click DNS > Delivery > Profiles > DNS or Local Traffic > Profiles > Services > DNS .
   The DNS profile list screen opens.
2. Click Create.
   The New DNS Profile screen opens.
3. In the General Properties area, name the profile dns_zxfr.
4. Select the Custom check box.
5. In the DNS Features area, from the DNS Express list, select Disabled.
6. In the DNS Traffic area, from the Zone Transfer list, select Enabled.
7. In the DNS Features area, from the Unhandled Query Actions list, select Allow.
   The BIG-IP system forwards zone transfer requests to a DNS server or a member of a pool of DNS servers.
8. In the DNS Features area, from the Use BIND Server on BIG-IP list, select Disabled.
9. Click Finished.

1. On the Main tab, click DNS > Delivery > Load Balancing > Monitors or Local Traffic > Monitors .
   The Monitor List screen opens.
2. Click Create.
   The New Monitor screen opens.
3. Type a name for the monitor in the Name field.
4. From the Type list, select DNS.
5. In the Query Name field, type the domain name that you want the monitor to query.
   For the zone, siterequest.com, you might want the monitor to query for www.siterequest.com.
6. Configure additional settings based on your network requirements.
7. Click Finished.

1. On the Main tab, click the applicable path.
   • DNS > Delivery > Load Balancing > Pools
   • Local Traffic > Pools
   The Pool List screen opens.
2. Click Create.
   The New Pool screen opens.
3. In the Name field, type a unique name for the pool.
4. For the Health Monitors setting, from the Available list, select the custom DNS monitor you created and move the monitor to the Active list.
5. Add each DNS server that you want to include in the pool using the New Members setting:
   1. In the Address field, type the IP address of the DNS server.
   2. Type 53 in the Service Port field.
   3. (Optional) Type a priority number in the Priority field.
   4. Click Add.
6. Click Finished.

1. On the Main tab, click DNS > Zones .
   The Zone List screen opens.
2. Click Create.
   The New Zone screen opens.
3. In the Name field, type the name of the DNS zone.
   The name must begin and end with a letter and contain only letters, numbers, and the period and hyphen (-) characters.
4. In the Zone Transfer Clients area, move the nameservers that can initiate zone transfers from the Available list to the Active list.
5. Optional: From the Server Key list, select the TSIG key that matches the TSIG key on the members of the pool of DNS servers that host this zone.
   The BIG-IP system uses this TSIG key to sign DNS zone transfer requests, before forwarding the requests to a member of the pool of DNS servers that host this zone, and then to verify a zone transfer returned from a member of the pool.