Limiting the Size of the IXFR Log File

3.24.1 Problem

You want to limit the size of the incremental zone transfer (IXFR) log file.

3.24.2 Solution

Use the BIND 8 max-ixfr-log-size options substatement. For example, to limit the size of the IXFR log file to 100K, you'd use:

options {
 directory "/var/named";
 maintain-ixfr-base yes;
 max-ixfr-log-size 100k;
};

3.24.3 Discussion

Without a configured maximum size for the IXFR log file, a BIND 8 name server will trim the log once it exceeds 50% of the size of the corresponding zone data file. If your chosen maximum is higher than 50% of the size of the zone data file, your maximum will supersede the built-in limit.

Though it's documented earlier, max-ixfr-log-size doesn't work until BIND 8.2.1.

You won't need to do this at all with a BIND 9 name server. (In fact, BIND 9 name servers don't understand max-ixfr-log-size, so there's no point in trying.) A BIND 9 name server will automatically trim its journal file. Like the sticker says, "No user serviceable parts inside."

3.24.4 See Also

Section 3.23 for configuring IXFR on BIND 8 name servers and "Incremental Zone Transfer (IXFR)" in Chapter 10 of DNS and BIND.