docs(changelog): document dns update and rndc synchronization changes

Add configurable post-update journal synchronization via rndc sync -clean.

Separate RFC 2136 update settings from local RNDC control settings.
Run synchronization only after a successful nsupdate request and only when
DYNDNS_RNDC_SYNC_CLEAN is enabled.

Treat RNDC synchronization failures as warnings because the DNS update has
already been accepted and named retains the authoritative state in its journal.

CHANGELOG.md

@@ -5,6 +5,28 @@ All notable changes to this project will be documented in this file.
 The format is based on [Keep a Changelog](https://keepachangelog.com/en/1.0.0/),
 and this project adheres to [Semantic Versioning](https://semver.org/spec/v2.0.0.html).
 
+## 1.1.0 - 2026-09-05
+
+### Added
+
+- Added optional post-update BIND journal synchronization through `rndc sync -clean`.
+- Added `DYNDNS_RNDC_SERVER`, `DYNDNS_RNDC_KEY`, and `DYNDNS_RNDC_SYNC_CLEAN` configuration parameters.
+- Added validation for the RNDC synchronization switch and required RNDC settings when synchronization is enabled.
+- Added conditional runtime validation for the `rndc` command when post-update journal synchronization is enabled.
+- Added `nsupdate` diagnostic output to the dynDNS log and preservation of failed update instructions for troubleshooting.
+
+### Changed
+
+- Separated RFC 2136 update settings from BIND RNDC control settings.
+- Updated dynamic update processing to target the authoritative DNS listener instead of a non-authoritative localhost resolver view.
+- Changed the post-update workflow to synchronize accepted dynamic updates into the primary zone file and clean BIND journal files when explicitly enabled.
+- Made RNDC synchronization failures non-fatal after a successful `nsupdate` transaction, while retaining a warning in the dynDNS log.
+
+### Removed
+
+- Removed unsafe DNSSEC handling that attempted to delete the zone `DNSKEY` RRset before dynamic updates.
+- Removed the unnecessary `rndc freeze` and `rndc thaw` workflow after RFC 2136 updates.
+
 ## 1.0.0 - 2026-06-20
 
 ### Added

README.md

@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ This repository contains only the backend components of the dynDNS service: the
 
 1. Clone the repository.
 2. Copy `vars.example` to a site-specific vars file.
-3. Adjust paths, database settings, BIND zone settings, and TSIG key references.
+3. Adjust paths, database settings, BIND zone settings and TSIG key references.
 4. Make `dyndns.sh` executable.
 5. Run the script manually once before automation.
 
@@ -87,7 +87,7 @@ GRANT ALL PRIVILEGES ON dyndns.* TO 'dyndnsuser'@'127.0.0.1';
 FLUSH PRIVILEGES;
 ```
 
-This setup allows local access for the dedicated dynDNS user from `localhost`, `127.0.0.1`, and `::1`, and keeps the dynDNS backend user restricted to the `dyndns` database and local connections only.
+This setup allows local access for the dedicated dynDNS user from `localhost`, `127.0.0.1` and `::1` and keeps the dynDNS backend user restricted to the `dyndns` database and local connections only.
 
 After database initialization, adjust the matching settings in your vars file:
 
@@ -262,8 +262,8 @@ See `LICENSE` for details.
 
 CB-601 - the open tec Elevator
 
-- Stephan Düsterhaupt ([XMPP](xmpp:me@jabber.stephanduesterhaupt.de))
-- Ivo Noack aka Insonic ([XMPP](xmpp:me@jabber.ivonoack.de))
+- [Stephan Düsterhaupt](xmpp:me@jabber.stephanduesterhaupt.de)
+- [Ivo Noack](xmpp:me@jabber.ivonoack.de) aka Insonic
 
 ## Project Home
 

dyndns.sh

@@ -17,9 +17,12 @@
 # - Validate database connectivity before command execution
 # - POSIX-compatible operation for cron and service integration
 
-# Authors: Stephan Düsterhaupt
+# Authors: Stephan Düsterhaupt, Ivo Noack aka Insonic
 # Copyright (c) 2018-2026 CB-601 - the open tec Elevator
 # License: MIT
+#
+# Project Home: https://dev.town-square.de/cb601/dyndns
+#
 
 ###############################################################################
 
@@ -238,6 +241,19 @@ _vars_source_check() {
     [ -n "$DYNDNS_BIND_ZONE_DIR" ]  || _die "DYNDNS_BIND_ZONE_DIR env-var undefined" 5
     [ -n "$DYNDNS_BIND_ZONE_FILE" ] || _die "DYNDNS_BIND_ZONE_FILE env-var undefined" 5
 
+    case "$DYNDNS_RNDC_SYNC_CLEAN" in
+        0|1)
+            ;;
+        *)
+            _die "DYNDNS_RNDC_SYNC_CLEAN must be either 0 or 1" 5
+            ;;
+    esac
+
+    if [ "$DYNDNS_RNDC_SYNC_CLEAN" = "1" ]; then
+        [ -n "$DYNDNS_RNDC_SERVER" ] || _die "DYNDNS_RNDC_SERVER env-var undefined" 5
+        [ -n "$DYNDNS_RNDC_KEY" ]    || _die "DYNDNS_RNDC_KEY env-var undefined" 5
+    fi
+
     _log "Leave the function '_vars_source_check()'..." 1
 
     return 0
@@ -262,12 +278,15 @@ _verify_runtime_init() {
     || command -v "$DYNDNS_DB_PROGRAM" >/dev/null 2>&1 \
     || _die "Database client '$DYNDNS_DB_PROGRAM' not available. $help_note" 5
 
-    command -v rndc >/dev/null 2>&1     || _die "rndc not available. $help_note" 5
     command -v sed >/dev/null 2>&1      || _die "sed not available. $help_note" 5
     command -v grep >/dev/null 2>&1     || _die "grep not available. $help_note" 5
     command -v awk >/dev/null 2>&1      || _die "awk not available. $help_note" 5
     command -v nsupdate >/dev/null 2>&1 || _die "nsupdate not available. $help_note" 5
 
+    if [ "$DYNDNS_RNDC_SYNC_CLEAN" = "1" ]; then
+        command -v rndc >/dev/null 2>&1 || _die "rndc not available. $help_note" 5
+    fi
+
     _log "Leave the function '_verify_runtime_init()'..." 1
     return 0
 } #=> _verify_runtime_init()
@@ -368,6 +387,16 @@ _vars_setup() {
     set_var DYNDNS_BIND_ZONE_FILE_SIGNED "$DYNDNS_BIND_ZONE_DIR/$DYNDNS_BIND_ZONE.zone.signed"
     set_var DYNDNS_BIND_ZONE_TTL         300
 
+    # RNDC post-update zone synchronization defaults
+    #
+    # The RNDC control interface is separate from the authoritative DNS
+    # listener used by nsupdate. Keep the default disabled so existing
+    # installations do not gain a new administrative post-update action
+    # unless it is explicitly enabled in their vars file.
+    set_var DYNDNS_RNDC_SERVER           "127.0.0.1"
+    set_var DYNDNS_RNDC_KEY              ""
+    set_var DYNDNS_RNDC_SYNC_CLEAN       0
+
     # Create a per-run temp directory name. The directory itself may be created
     # lazily later by dyndns_mktemp().
     if [ -z "$DYNDNS_TEMP_DIR_session" ]; then
@@ -398,7 +427,7 @@ set_var() {
 
 
 # SDuesterhaupt: 2026-06-18 - Write a message to the dynDNS log file.
-
+#
 #                Severity levels:
 #                  0 -> OFF
 #                  1 -> DEBUG
@@ -406,7 +435,7 @@ set_var() {
 #                  3 -> WARNING
 #                  4 -> ERROR
 #                  5 -> CRITICAL
-
+#
 #                @param1: Log message.
 #                @param2: Severity level.
 _log() {
@@ -444,7 +473,7 @@ _log() {
 
 
 # SDuesterhaupt: 2026-06-18 - Check whether DYNDNS_MEMBER_HOSTNAME is a valid hostname
-
+#
 #                Returns:
 #                  0 if valid
 #                  1 if invalid
@@ -1294,26 +1323,11 @@ _zone_updates_apply() {
         return 1
     }
 
-    _log "Check the zone '$DYNDNS_BIND_ZONE' for DNSSEC capabilities..." 1
-    if [ -f "$DYNDNS_BIND_ZONE_FILE_SIGNED" ]; then
-        _log "The zone '$DYNDNS_BIND_ZONE' uses DNSSEC..." 1
-        zone_uses_dnssec=1
-    else
-        _log "The zone '$DYNDNS_BIND_ZONE' does not use DNSSEC..." 1
-        zone_uses_dnssec=0
-    fi
-
     {
         printf 'debug\n'
         printf 'server %s\n' "$DYNDNS_BIND_SERVER"
         printf 'zone %s.\n' "$DYNDNS_BIND_ZONE"
 
-        if [ "$zone_uses_dnssec" -eq 1 ]; then
-            printf '; Move %s from secure to insecure temporarily\n' "$DYNDNS_BIND_ZONE_FILE"
-            printf 'update delete %s. DNSKEY\n' "$DYNDNS_BIND_ZONE"
-            printf 'send\n'
-        fi
-
         awk -F '\t' -v zone_file="$DYNDNS_BIND_ZONE_FILE" '
             $1 == "del" {
                 del_owner[++del_count] = $2
@@ -1372,9 +1386,20 @@ _zone_updates_apply() {
 
     cp "$nsupdate_file" "$DYNDNS_LOG_UPDATE_FILE" 2>/dev/null || true
 
-    if ! nsupdate -k "$DYNDNS_BIND_ZONE_KEY" "$nsupdate_file" >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+    nsupdate_output=$(nsupdate -d -k "$DYNDNS_BIND_ZONE_KEY" "$nsupdate_file" 2>&1)
+    nsupdate_rc=$?
+
+    if [ "$nsupdate_rc" -ne 0 ]; then
+        {
+            printf '%s\n' "nsupdate output (exit code: $nsupdate_rc):"
+            printf '%s\n' "$nsupdate_output"
+        } >> "$DYNDNS_LOG_FILE"
+
+        cp "$nsupdate_file" \
+            "$DYNDNS_LOG_UPDATE_FILE.failed" 2>/dev/null || true
         rm -f "$nsupdate_file"
-        _log "Zone updates could not be applied." 4
+
+        _log "Zone updates could not be applied (nsupdate exit code: $nsupdate_rc)." 4
         _log "Leave the function '_zone_updates_apply()'..." 1
         return 1
     fi
@@ -1394,20 +1419,22 @@ _zone_updates_apply() {
     rm -f "$nsupdate_file"
     _log "Zone updates were applied successfully." 2
 
-    if command -v rndc >/dev/null 2>&1; then
-        if rndc -s "$DYNDNS_BIND_SERVER" -k "$DYNDNS_BIND_ZONE_KEY" freeze "$DYNDNS_BIND_ZONE" >/dev/null 2>&1; then
-            _log "The zone '$DYNDNS_BIND_ZONE' was frozen." 2
-            if rndc -s "$DYNDNS_BIND_SERVER" -k "$DYNDNS_BIND_ZONE_KEY" thaw "$DYNDNS_BIND_ZONE" >/dev/null 2>&1; then
-                _log "The zone '$DYNDNS_BIND_ZONE' was reloaded." 2
+    # Synchronize dynamic zone journal changes into the master zone file.
+    #
+    # BIND keeps successful RFC 2136 updates in the zone journal until a zone dump
+    # occurs. sync -clean writes the active journal state to the master zone file
+    # and removes the journal after a successful synchronization.
+    #
+    # A synchronization failure is intentionally non-fatal: nsupdate has already
+    # succeeded and named keeps the authoritative runtime state in the journal.
+    if [ "$DYNDNS_RNDC_SYNC_CLEAN" = "1" ]; then
+        if rndc \
+            -s "$DYNDNS_RNDC_SERVER" \
+            -k "$DYNDNS_RNDC_KEY" \
+            sync -clean "$DYNDNS_BIND_ZONE" >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+            _log "The zone '$DYNDNS_BIND_ZONE' was synchronized and journals were cleaned." 2
         else
-                _log "Couldn't reload the zone '$DYNDNS_BIND_ZONE'." 4
-                _log "Leave the function '_zone_updates_apply()'..." 1
-                return 1
-            fi
-        else
-            _log "Couldn't freeze the zone '$DYNDNS_BIND_ZONE'." 4
-            _log "Leave the function '_zone_updates_apply()'..." 1
-            return 1
+            _log "Zone update succeeded, but rndc sync -clean failed for '$DYNDNS_BIND_ZONE'." 3
         fi
     fi
 

vars.example

@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@
 # Database login credentials.
 # These are mainly used when DYNDNS_SQL_GROUP is unset/empty.
 #set_var DYNDNS_SQL_USER  "dyndns_user"
-#set_var DYNDNS_SQL_PASS  "strong_passphrase"
+#set_var DYNDNS_SQL_PASS  "<REPLACE_WITH_STRONG_PASSWORD>"
 
 # Additional database client options, if needed.
 # Example:
@@ -81,7 +81,12 @@
 # DNS / BIND
 # ------------------------------------------------------------------
 
-# Authoritative DNS server used for update operations
+# Authoritative DNS server used for RFC 2136 dynamic update operations.
+#
+# This address is used by nsupdate on DNS port 53. It must point to the
+# authoritative BIND listener and matching view serving DYNDNS_BIND_ZONE.
+#
+# Do not use a local recursive-only listener or a non-authoritative view.
 #set_var DYNDNS_BIND_SERVER  "127.0.0.1"
 
 # Service name used when reloading/reconfiguring the name server
@@ -90,7 +95,10 @@
 # DNS zone handled by dynDNS
 #set_var DYNDNS_BIND_ZONE  "example24.com"
 
-# TSIG key file or key identifier used for nsupdate access
+# TSIG key file or key identifier used for nsupdate access.
+#
+# This key should be restricted in BIND with update-policy and must not be
+# confused with the RNDC control key configured below.
 #set_var DYNDNS_BIND_ZONE_KEY  "keyfile"
 
 # Directory containing the primary zone files
@@ -105,6 +113,34 @@
 # Default TTL for generated/managed records
 #set_var DYNDNS_BIND_ZONE_TTL  300
 
+# ------------------------------------------------------------------
+# RNDC POST-UPDATE ZONE SYNCHRONIZATION
+# ------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+# Local BIND control endpoint used for optional post-update synchronization.
+#
+# rndc connects to named's control interface, normally TCP port 953.
+# This is independent from DYNDNS_BIND_SERVER, which is used by nsupdate
+# against DNS port 53.
+#set_var DYNDNS_RNDC_SERVER  "127.0.0.1"
+
+# RNDC control key authorized by the named controls {} configuration.
+#
+# This key is intentionally separate from DYNDNS_BIND_ZONE_KEY. The latter is
+# used by nsupdate for RFC 2136 DNS updates, while this key authorizes BIND
+# administrative operations such as "rndc sync -clean".
+#set_var DYNDNS_RNDC_KEY  "/etc/named/rndc.key"
+
+# Synchronize dynamic zone journals after a successful nsupdate request.
+#
+# 0 = disabled; named handles zone dumps using its normal maintenance schedule.
+# 1 = execute "rndc sync -clean <zone>" after a successful DNS update.
+#
+# A failed synchronization must be logged as a warning only. The dynamic update
+# remains successful because named retains the authoritative state in its
+# journal until the next successful zone dump.
+#set_var DYNDNS_RNDC_SYNC_CLEAN  0
+
 # ------------------------------------------------------------------
 # MEMBER DEFAULTS
 # ------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -119,7 +155,7 @@
 #set_var DYNDNS_MEMBER_EMAIL  "admin@example24.com"
 
 # Password or shared secret used during member creation/authentication
-#set_var DYNDNS_MEMBER_PASS  "strong_passphrase"
+#set_var DYNDNS_MEMBER_PASS  "<REPLACE_WITH_STRONG_PASSWORD>"
 
 # ------------------------------------------------------------------
 # OPTIONAL COMMAND HOOKS