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RE: [ietf-dkim] The URL to my paper describing the DKIM policy options

2006-07-26 21:03:21

[mailto:ietf-dkim-bounces(_at_)mipassoc(_dot_)org] On Behalf Of Scott 
Kitterman

It might be useful (later, after the requirements discussion 
is complete) to explore the feasibility of a common policy 
record for the two for future revisions.  The risk associated 
with complexity and the possibility of contradictory policy 
statements may make the associated up front pain worthwhile.

I would imagine that 'the market' is looking for simplicity 
in a holistic approach.  The more that these technologies can 
be effectively integrated, the better off the average mail 
admin will be.

The question in my mind is who builds a road towards whom.

One way forward is to start with SPF and have a statement 'there is a DKIM 
record'.

Pro: Already some base
Con: The decision to use a raw unprefixed TXT record does not play 
        nice with other systems.
Con: SPF politics.
Con: Leaves a standard track WG dependent on an RFC parked at experimental

Another is to make the dkim policy language powerful enough to support the 
statement 'there is also an SPF record'

Pro: Least work for us
Pro: Aligns with standards
Pro: Uses a prefixed record
Con: Lose the SPF base

A third option is to introduce a super-policy record that lists the 
authentication mechanisms in use

Pro: Is clean
Pro: Puts DKIM, SMIME, PGP, SPF on equal footing
Con: Yet another policy descriptor


One other factor that I have been looking into, it seems to me that super 
wildcards play nicely with legacy systems. IE if there is a legacy resolver 
that comes across a domain that uses super wildcards the system is most likely 
to produce the intended semantics. So super wildcards could be phased in.

In the first phase policy lookups would first try the superwildcard algorithm, 
then revert to the heuristic. In the second phase the heuristic would be phased 
out and only super wildcard records looked for.

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