V. 5.2 BETA Release Notes

This is a detailed list of updates and changes in Simple DNS Plus v. 5.2 BETA updates.
For BETA download and information please click here.

Build 30 - April 5th 2009

• Added: New standard plug-in "Ignore DNS Request" included with main installation. Details
• Added: New "Ignore DNS Request" plug-in type implemented in "sdnsplugin.dll" through the interface "IIgnoreRequestPlugIn".
• Update: Now responds to non-recursive requests from IP addresses that are offered recursion with cache/root data instead of empty response (also in 5.1.134).
• Update: No longer records Windows event for socket error 10060 on inbound TCP connection attempt (also in 5.1.134). Details

Build 29 - March 30th 2009

• Fixed: Using option to listen for DNS requests "On all local IP addresses" in some cases caused socket error 10049 binding to Teredo address (2001:0:...). Now ignores all local Teredo addresses as these are dynamic (port based) anyway (also fixed in 5.1.134).

Build 28 - March 27th 2009

• Added: Active Log View can be paused (from main View menu / log right-click menu / F9 key).
• Update: Removed "Typical" installation option - same as "Complete".
• Update: Faster Active Log View - initial buffer catch up and multi line request/response are added as blocks.
• Update: Optimized processing of TSIG signatures in incoming DNS requests. .
• Update: Clarified text in Zone Properties dialog / Dynamic Updates tab - this is about "un-signed" (not TSIG) updates.
• Fixed: EDNS0 data in incoming IXFR request not logged.
• Fixed: If the computer's IP addresses happen to change during a specific part of Simple DNS Plus' startup sequence, the service would end up in a "mixed" state resulting in various errors (also fixed in 5.1.134).
• Fixed: Error creating/binding socket for outbound DNS request (TCP + random port UDP) would crash service. Now catches and logs problem instead (also fixed in 5.1.134).

Build 27 - March 20th 2009

• Added: "Remember password" checkbox in Remote Connect dialog.
• Added: Window layout for main and DNS Records windows are now persistet separately for each remote server.
• Update: Double clicking item in available plug-in objects list now creates new instance (Options dialog / Plug-ins section).

Build 26 - March 18th 2009

• Added: New Zone Wizard: Now also asks for TSIG key for new secondary zone.
• Added: TSIG signed dynamic updates now also with SHA hashing algorithms (added Algorithm dropdown to Options / TSIG Updates / TSIG Key dialog).
• Update: Now also logs TSIG signature for completed zone transfer response.
• Update: Zone transfer TSIG key secrets now scrambled in sdnsplus.config.xml file.
• Update: Better logging of error responses to signed zone transfer requests.
• Fixed: Updating Super Master TSIG keys in Options dialog did not immediately refresh zone list(s) from Super Masters.
• Fixed: Zone transfer requests to Super Master server did not always use TSIG key specified for Super Master.
• Fixed: Super slave server might ignore some NOTIFY requests from Super Master claiming un-listed master IP address when "Only accept NOTIFY requests from IP address of primary server" option turned on - even for requests originating from listed master IP (also fixed in 5.1.132).

Build 25 - March 17th 2009

• Added: TSIG authenticated zone transfers feature. Details.
• Added: Support for RFC4635 "HMAC SHA TSIG Algorithm Identifiers".
• Added: If sdnsgui.exe is already running when using Windows Start menu / Desktop shortcut, this will now open or bring to front the main window of the already running instance.
• Added: "Connect to Remote..." item in DNS Records window "File" menu.
• Update: No longer caches NS-records from response authority section unless actual sub-name referral (to better deal with zone NS-record / domain registration mismatches).
• Update: TSIG Key dialog for dynamic updates - secret value generation now via drop down menu instead of separate dialog.
• Update: Signing algorithm field added to methods in plug-in interface ITSIGUpdateHost.
• Update: DNS Records window: Moved "New SPF-record" and "New TXT-record" to first menu level for easier access.

Build 24 - March 13th 2009

• Update: Log messages from plug-ins now prefixed with Plug-in "plug-in-display-name ":
• Update: HTTP API and Remote Management can now listen on "All local IP addresses" - which includes both IPv4 and IPv6.
• Fixed: When assigning a random port for an outbound request and encountering socket problems other than port availability, the loop to find an available port would continue and eventually throw an exception crashing the service (also fixed in 5.1.132).
• Fixed: If the file name of an updated plug-in had different letter casing than previous version, existing plug-in instances would fail to load - listed as *Unknown* (also fixed in 5.1.132).
• Fixed: NullReferenceException on some systems when reloading DHCP Server and DynDNS Service plug-in Views after updating plug-in settings in Options dialog (since build 23).

Build 23 - March 7th 2009

• Added: Options dialog / DNS / Local Zones / Data Files: New "Maximum TTL" option.
• Added: "Connect to Remote..." item in main window "File" menu.
• Added: Remote management connection dialog: Computer history dropdown and auto complete.
• Update: Remote management connection dialog: Removed port number field (use "host:port" format instead).
• Update: DNS Look Up tool: Moved SOA, SPF, and TXT record types to first menu level for easier access.
• Update: DNS Look Up tool: Hitting enter key in DNS/WHOIS server entry fields now again executes look up as in previous versions.
• Update: Plug-in View (in main window) now reloaded whenever the related plug-in configuration is updated (Options dialog).
• Update: DS-record generation warning message if no DNSKEY/SEP found, changed to infomation message if zone signed at the same time.
• Update: DNSSEC signing a zone no longer automatically saves the zone.
• Update: Installer prerequisites now enforced (will not continue without).
• Fixed: ArgumentOutOfRangeException when zone contained NSEC3PARAM record but no NSEC3 records and DNSSEC queried.
• Fixed: IOException when closing multiple DNS Records window instances at the same time (computer shutdown / network connection closed).

Build 22 - March 4th 2009

• Update: Enhanced detection of corrupt cache file and logging of this at startup.
• Fixed: General error handler in editrecs.exe and sdnsgui.exe did not catch GUI thread errors.
• Fixed: Bulk Update Wizard / Promote primary zones to secondary zones - NullReferenceException if zone folder "Secondary zones" selected before running wizard (also fixed in 5.1.131).
• Fixed: DynDNS Service plug-in: Occasional asynchronous operation error logged when plug-in restarted. Did not cause any problems other than the log entry (also fixed in 5.1.131).

Build 21 - February 28th 2009

• Update: Look Up tool: Auto suggest list on drop-down lists no longer opens if drop down is already open (list on top of list).
• Update: New zone wizard - locked zone name field for /8 and /16 IPv4 reverse zones to standard name.
• Fixed: "Update reverse zone" checkbox in A-record dialog did not work correctly with /8 and /16 IPv4 reverse zones.
• Fixed: Installer created incorrect registry startup entry.

Build 20 - February 27th 2009

• Fixed: Check Internet Delegations wizard - cancelling wizard might cause ObjectDisposedException.
• Fixed: Options dialog - verification of data file and log file locations checked local file system also during remote management, causing incorrect error message.

Build 19 - February 24th 2009

• Fixed: Installer error if core service was de-selected.

Build 18 - February 23rd 2009

• Added: New "Check Internet Delegations" wizard. Details.
• Update: Default zone file name for zone names starting with "con", "aux", "com", "nul", "lpt", "prn" no longer prefixed. Details.
• Fixed: Installer "Launch Simple DNS Plus" checkbox did not work on x64 machines (since 5.2.15).
• Fixed: Activation dialog messed up when trial expired while GUI running.

Build 15 - February 21st 2009

• Added: Windows Performance Counters. Details.
• Added: The New Zone wizard can now also create /8 and /16 reverse zones, and such existing zones are now recognized as reverse zones.
• Added: DHCP plug-in: List of DHCP leases can now be exported to .csv and HTML (right-click menu in view).
• Added: New separate setting for maximum cache time for negative responses (Options dialog / DNS / Resolver / Caching).
• Update: Installer prerequisites .NET Framework 2.0 SP2 / 3.5 SP1
• Update: Installer now mixed 32/64 bit, so it doesn't install to "Program Files (x86)" on x64 machines.

Build 12 - February 18th 2009

• Update: Options dialog rearranged; added "Resolver" and "Local Zones" folders for better overview, and moved / renamed a few settings.
• Update: Removed option "Always include NS referral in DNS responses from local zones". Now permanently on.
• Fixed: Error in installer on some Vista systems. All custom actions in installer now set to "no impersonation".

Build 11 - February 17th 2009

• Added: Support for "Server Core" (Windows without windows). Details.
• Added: New command line option "sdnsplus -m <password>" enables remote management.
• Update: Now possible to simultanously run GUI (including tray icon) for multiple local server instances (control mutex now includes instance ID).
• Update: Now prevents automatic GUI startup at logon when tray icon option is off, in case registry startup entry left over from previous install.
• Fixed: Installer created empty folder in Start menu / Programs when "Start menu shortcuts" option un-checked.

Build 10 - February 15th 2009

• Added: Remote management feature. Details.
• Added: Support for Windows 7 (beta 1) and Windows 2008 R2 (beta 1).
• Added: New "RemoteGUI" field and "GetServerIPs" function to plug-in interface base controls ViewUI and OptionsUI.
• Added: New event ID 105 "Failed to start remote management on <ip-address> port <port> (<error>).
• Update: sdnsplus.exe is now dedicated to command line operations (no longer used for GUI startup). All GUI dependencies have been removed and it now uses standard output (command line) only.
  If a command line operation fails, sdnsplus.exe now also returns exit code 1, which enables more advanced command line / PowerShell scripting scenarios.
  Windows Start menu and desktop icons now point to "sdnsgui.exe" instead of "sdnsplus.exe". Same for auto startup/tray registry entry. Program logic to check for running service etc. has been moved to sdnsgui.exe.
• Update: Starting Simple DNS Plus GUI via Start menu / Desktop icon when the service is not running now prompts user if he/she wants to start the service or not. Previous versions just started the service without asking, which could be confusing when troubleshooting.
• Update: Support file data now generated by service instead of GUI, no longer saved to disk, and now opens in a new dialog instead of Notepad.
• Update: All plug-ins recompiled to use new sdnsplugin.dll version (5.2.10). 3rd party plug-ins must also be recompiled.
• Update: Record sets in responses to ANY-requests are now sorted (SOA first, then by numeric type) to solve truncation issue with the .fi (Finland) TLD registry and zones with many/large apex records (like in DNSSEC signed zones).
• Update: Added "Platform bits" to support file and error reports (app running as 32 or 64 bit).
• Update: DNS Look Up tool: WHOIS response text now includes responding server, to show last server when using auto server selection.
• Update: DNS Look Up tool: Now accepts command line argument @<server> to prefill DNS server option.
• Fixed: NullReferenceException processing some DNS requests.
• Fixed: DNS Look Up tool: Stopping lookup while resolving server host name and then doing another lookup caused InvalidOperationException.
• Fixed: Lame requests / Stealth option did not suppress responses to lame Update requests (also fixed in 5.1.129). Details.
• Fixed: Options dialog / DNS / Inbound - InvalidCastException when "All IPs" option selected and non-existing IP checked in list below (also fixed in 5.1.130).

Build 9 - January 31st 2009

• Added: New option to ignore all requests for <root> + HTTP API statistics for this. Details (also added in 5.1.128)
• Fixed: DNS Look Up tool: WHOIS function looping between servers when looking up IP addresses.

Build 8 - January 28th 2009

• Update: Windows 98 / Me no longer supported (preparing for other new features).
• Update: Removed all GUI dependencies from main service module (lighter and faster).
• Update: Includes updated version of root hints file (v. 2008121200)
• Update: DNS Look Up tool: Server history dropdown re-added for both DNS and WHOIS server fields.
• Fixed: Installer: Start menu shortcut would install also when option un-checked.

Build 7 - January 27th 2009

• Added: Support for DHCID-records (RFC4701).
• Added: DNS Look Up tool: New "DNSSEC Checking Disabled (CD)" option.
• Added: DNS Look Up tool: Now displays "Authentic Data (AD)" header in result for DNSSEC requests.
• Added: Installer: Options to install Start menu shortcuts or not.
• Update: DNS Look Up tool: Look up options are now "docked" in right side of main window instead of a dialog.
• Update: Options dialog / Plug-in instances list now also lists configured plug-ins for unknown components (removed / old versions).
• Fixed: DNS Look Up tool: WHOIS function looping between servers.
• Fixed: DNS Records window: "Copy to clipboard" button in DS-records dialog caused error on some systems - now catches error and display it without crashing.

Build 6 - January 26th 2009

• Added: DNS Look Up tool: Added WHOIS server and port number options (WHOIS server now separate from DNS server).
• Update: DNS Look Up tool: DNS/WHOIS server entry moved to Look Up Options dialog.
• Fixed: InvalidCastException when loading some DNSSEC signed zones.

Build 5 - January 25th 2009

• Added: New DNSSEC zone signing / key management functions in the DNS Records window / module.
  For details see this news article, KB1273 and KB1274.
• Added: Support for hosting DNSSEC signed zones (including NSEC3).
• Added: Support for DNSSEC record types: DNSKEY, RRSIG, NSEC, DS, DLV, NSEC3, and NSEC3PARAM in all modules.
• Added: DNS Look Up tool: New "DNS Request Options" dialog to specify; server port, TCP, Recursion, EDNS0, UDP payload, and DNSSEC.
• Added: Event ID 140 - Warning: "Open DNS Server. Limiting recursion to trusted IP addresses is recommened (Options dialog / DNS / Recursion)".
• Update: Options / DNS / Lame Requests - default changed to "Respond with a Refused error message" (moved to top of list).
• Fixed: Plug-in DNS request rule editor would sometimes add an extra "Requested record type is: TYPE0" rule.
• Fixed: DNS Look Up tool: Last record in non-EDNS0 response packets not parsed ("Incomplete response" message) (also fixed in 5.1.126).
• Fixed: Allocates max. available UDP sockets (OS application limit) and then loops endlessly. May happen when Outbound requests / random ports is enabled, and when it doesn't get any responses back from other servers while recursing for an extended period (also fixed in 5.1.126).
• Fixed: General buffer comparison bug (also fixed in 5.1.126).

Build 4 - January 9th 2009

• Fixed: Stack Overflow error when creating/editing plug-in instances with sub-list rules.

Build 3 - January 8th 2009

• Fixed: Error parsing some A6-records from DNS network packets (also fixed in v. 5.1.123).
• Trace: Extra error handling code to catch reported NullReferenceException.

Build 2 - January 7th 2009

• Update: Implemented multi-threading in "MS SQL Server", "MS SQL Server Plus", and "MySQL Server" plug-ins.

Build 1 - January 4th 2009

• Update: Plug-in interface "IBasePlugIn" updated: SetAppInfo method removed, LoadConfig & GetOptionsUI methods changed.

Build 0 - January 3rd 2009

• Added: New "rule engine" and GUI editor for setting up "rules" controlling which DNS requests are processed by each plug-in. This is configured in new "DNS Requests" tab - which replaces the "DNS Ask About" and "DNS Access" tabs.
• Added: Plug-ins can provide "rules" for other plug-ins through new "IListsIPAddress", "IListsDomainName", and "IQuestions" interfaces. For example - you can setup a rule that a plug-in may only be queried from IP addresses listed by another plug-in. Such rules may be based on databases or practically anything else you can think of.
  Initially implemented in the plug-ins: DHCP Server, DNS Blacklist, Domain Blacklist, DynDNS Service, Hosts File.
• Added: Now supports multi-threaded plug-in processing.
  New "Max. parallel threads" GUI option controls how many threads may access a plug-in at the same time.
  This can improve plug-in performace significantly - especially for resources from multi-core computers.
• Added: New plug-in option "Max threads in queue" - controlling waiting threads.
  Note: All plug-in lookups are now called asynchronously (no longer possible to execute on main thread), so this option applies to all plug-ins.
• Added: New plug-in option: "Perform DNS recursion for IP addresses listed by this plug-in".
  Available for all plug-ins implementing the new IListsIPAddress interface.
• Added: New plug-in option: "Whitelist IP addresses listed by this plug-in from all DNSBLs".
  Available for all plug-ins implementing the new IListsIPAddress interface.
• Added: New "Skip" plug-in. Replaces "Scheduler" and "Domain Whitelist" plug-ins.
• Added: New "Fixed IP Address" plug-in. Returns a fixed IP address to all A/AAAA requests.
• Added: New "Fixed Host Name" plug-in. Returns a fixed host name - either as a CNAME record for all requests, or as MX/NS/PTR records.
• Added: New event ID 259 "Thread queue error for plug-in".
• Update: Restructuring of plug-in programming interfaces - new/recompiled versions of all plug-ins are required.
• Update: DynDNS Service plug-in: Removed option "Serve DNSBL records for DynDNS user IP addresses". Same thing can now be done with "Fixed IP Address" plug and rules.
• Update: Plug-ins are now queried first (before local zones) by default.
• Update: Now resolves CNAME records from plug-ins.