Netgate Discussion Forum
    • Categories
    • Recent
    • Tags
    • Popular
    • Users
    • Search
    • Register
    • Login

    Add PTR and NS Records to DNS Resolver possible?

    Scheduled Pinned Locked Moved DHCP and DNS
    99 Posts 14 Posters 31.5k Views
    Loading More Posts
    • Oldest to Newest
    • Newest to Oldest
    • Most Votes
    Reply
    • Reply as topic
    Log in to reply
    This topic has been deleted. Only users with topic management privileges can see it.
    • T
      trentuk
      last edited by

      Hello mobility_dev,

      Many thanks for joining the discussion and for clarifying the required records.

      I think the issue here is we need to find how best to create the required DNS records in 'Unbound' DNS (or 'DNS Resolver' as it is called in pfSense) so the Mobility Print App can successfully discover published printers.

      In order to do this I believe the resident 'DNS Resolver' experts would be interested in gaining a better understanding of how the DNS records are utilised by the client application, I'll ask the following questions in order to get the ball rolling, everyone else feel free to jump in …

      • Could you tell us how the client apps (Android, Windows, ChromeBook) search for the Mobility Print Server, do they specifically look for the subzone called 'pc-printer-discovery' with the same DNS suffix of the network the client device is connected to, or are the clients looking for the PTR records 'b._dns-sd._udp' & 'lb._dns-sd._udp' with the same DNS suffix of the network the client is connected to?
      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
      • M
        mobility_dev
        last edited by

        Hi trentuk,
        Here are are my answer:

        Could you tell us how the client apps (Android, Windows, ChromeBook) search for the Mobility Print Server, do they specifically look for the subzone called 'pc-printer-discovery' with the same DNS suffix of the network the client device is connected to, or are the clients looking for the PTR records 'b._dns-sd._udp' & 'lb._dns-sd._udp' with the same DNS suffix of the network the client is connected to?

        The Android, Windows will look for printers at a hard-coded URL: https://rpc.pc-printer-discovery:9164/printers (ChromeBook the URL is http://rpc.pc-printer-discovery:9163/printers). The OS will automatically append the search domain for you. If you setup the DNS delegation right, then this will return you a list of printer in JSON format.

        The first step of the 'DNS Discovery Checks' says to test the IPPS pointer records, but this record isn't mentioned prior to this point, is this record required? If so is this the first record the Mobility Print App looks for? Should this record be returned by the local DNS or the Mobility Print Server DNS - https://www.papercut.com/products/ng/mobility-print/manual/troubleshooting/#test-the-ipps-pointer-records-dns-server

        That record is "managed" by Mobility Print server itself (because it's under pc-printer-discovery subzone), so you should not add this record manually to your DNS server, you just need to setup the delegation subzone pc-printer-discovery under your search domain from your DNS server to Mobility Print server. That's it.
        If you have more questions, please ask.

        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
        • johnpozJ
          johnpoz LAYER 8 Global Moderator
          last edited by

          if they are looking for rpc.pc-printer-discovery.domain.tld

          And all your doing is pointing NS to the mobility then all that is needed in pfsense unbound would be a domain override for pc-printer-discovery.domain.tld.  What is the point of the PTRs? why can not just delegate _dns-sd._udp.domain.tld, etc.  unless your saying the mobility box won't respond to those - then why the need for the PTR at all  if they are just looking for

          rpc.pc-printer-discovery.yourdomain.tld

          Why can I Not just put in a host override of rpc.pc-printer-discovery and point it to the IP of the mobility box?  Which will serve up the xml? http(s)//:rpc.pc-printer-discovery.domain.tld:9164/printers

          Why do we need all this subdomain delegation.. unless they look for Othersuff.pc-printer-discovery.domain.tld

          An intelligent man is sometimes forced to be drunk to spend time with his fools
          If you get confused: Listen to the Music Play
          Please don't Chat/PM me for help, unless mod related
          SG-4860 24.11 | Lab VMs 2.8, 24.11

          1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
          • M
            mobility_dev
            last edited by

            Thanks johnpoz for your input.
            Mobility Print supports many client device types: Android, Chromebook, Windows, iOS and macOS.
            If the customer need to:

            • Support Android and Chromebook, then you are right. They only need to put the rpc.pc-printer-discovery.domain.tld using host override feature of Unbound as you said and it should work.
            • Additionally support Windows, then they need to add another host override ipp.pc-printer-discovery.domain.tld to Unbound
            • To support iOS and macOS, our server need to implement the DNS-SD RFC (http://www.dns-sd.org/) because iOS and macOS using DNS-SD to discovery printers. So the two records b._dns-sd._udp.domain.tld PTR pc-printer-discovery.domain.tld and lb._dns-sd._udp.domain.tld PTR pc-printer-discovery.domain.tld are required.
              Here is a the DNS conversation of the iOS device with the DNS server (in this case Unbound) when it join a subnet with the search domain domain.tld and try to find the printers:
            • iOS devices: hey, in this search domain domain.tld, where should I browse for available services so that I can use?
                (then it sends the query b._dns-sd._udp.domain.tld PTR to Unbound)
            • Unbound: I don't know, but you can ask pc-printer-discovery.domain.tld
                (in this case we want Unbound to return the pc-printer-discovery.domain.tld as the data in the answer)
                Next, because the iOS device want to find printing services, which is defined as _ipps._tcp in DNS-SD RFC
            • The iOS device will ask: Can you give me a list of printers so that I can print to?
                (then it sends the query _ipps._tcp.pc-printer-discovery.domain.tld PTR TO Unbound and we expect Unbound forward this query to Mobility Print server. Mobility Print server will generate the answers returning to Unbound then Unbound returns the answers to the iOS device)

            This is how it works in the case of BIND and Windows DNS server.

            So it's just the matter to replicate this conversation by configuring Unbound.
            Input from Unbound expert is appricated!

            For more information about DNS-SD: http://www.dns-sd.org/

            1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
            • johnpozJ
              johnpoz LAYER 8 Global Moderator
              last edited by

              That is great info thank you - how come that info is not listed on your site when looking to implement dns for your product?  Or is it and just didn't find that document?  If so could you provide link?

              An intelligent man is sometimes forced to be drunk to spend time with his fools
              If you get confused: Listen to the Music Play
              Please don't Chat/PM me for help, unless mod related
              SG-4860 24.11 | Lab VMs 2.8, 24.11

              1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
              • K
                kolpinkb
                last edited by

                Just tried the host override in the web GUI.  Unbound doesn't seem to like the "dot" after the "rpc".  It returns an error in the staying "A valid hostname is specified, but the domain part should be omitted.

                1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                • johnpozJ
                  johnpoz LAYER 8 Global Moderator
                  last edited by

                  you wouldn't put in a dot after

                  The host would be rpc

                  The domain would be pc-printer-discovery.domain.tld

                  In your host override section.

                  An intelligent man is sometimes forced to be drunk to spend time with his fools
                  If you get confused: Listen to the Music Play
                  Please don't Chat/PM me for help, unless mod related
                  SG-4860 24.11 | Lab VMs 2.8, 24.11

                  1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                  • K
                    kolpinkb
                    last edited by

                    Thanks for the clarification johnpoz.  Rookie mistake on my part.  I have all the records required for Android and two green check marks but I still can't seem to get the mobility app to find my printers.

                    1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                    • johnpozJ
                      johnpoz LAYER 8 Global Moderator
                      last edited by

                      I have gotten a bit side tracked..  I will try and find some time here tmrw morning to bring up the mobility on box on one of my wifi segments with printer and papercut ng on different segment to get this working..  And will turn off the functionality on the printer directly, etc.

                      Per this
                      "Support Android and Chromebook, then you are right. They only need to put the rpc.pc-printer-discovery.domain.tld using host override feature of Unbound as you said and it should work."

                      All you should need is the override pointing to the IP of your box running the mobility.. As long as the mobility has your printer(s) setup, etc.

                      An intelligent man is sometimes forced to be drunk to spend time with his fools
                      If you get confused: Listen to the Music Play
                      Please don't Chat/PM me for help, unless mod related
                      SG-4860 24.11 | Lab VMs 2.8, 24.11

                      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                      • K
                        kolpinkb
                        last edited by

                        I did exactly that.

                        However, I'm not sure if the following makes a difference.

                        -papercut and mobility print are on the same machine
                        -printrr is on same subnet as above
                        -android phone is on a different subnet

                        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                        • M
                          mobility_dev
                          last edited by

                          Hi thehammer86,
                          Can you access the URL http://rpc.pc-printer-discovery:9163/printers from a browser on your Android device?
                          It should return to you some JSON if you have some printers on your Mobility Print server.

                          1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                          • K
                            kolpinkb
                            last edited by

                            It returns JSON if I add .example.com.

                            I must be missing something in my unbound config?

                            1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                            • M
                              mobility_dev
                              last edited by

                              What is the search domain (DNS suffix) on your Android device?

                              1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                              • K
                                kolpinkb
                                last edited by

                                I don't seem to have that option available in my wifi.  Running Android 6.0.1.

                                I have my search domain set in my DHCP server on pfSense.

                                I've also manually added it to my windows PCs.  For the windows PCs I know the search domain is working because I don't have to add the example.xom part when I do an NS lookup.

                                1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                • S
                                  Selo
                                  last edited by

                                  Hello everybody,

                                  I was wondering: was this issue solved in the end?
                                  We are facing the same problem configuring Resolver with the Mobility records.
                                  Checking the records using the Mobility application, we keep getting errors on the PTR records (the other 2 are working fine).
                                  Screenshot of working DNS entries would be really great!

                                  1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                  • K
                                    kolpinkb
                                    last edited by

                                    Not yet with the Unbound resolver.  I ended up setting up a separate sever just for bind9.  I have everything working with that setup.

                                    1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                    • S
                                      Selo
                                      last edited by

                                      Is it possible to post the actual records you used (as an example/syntax)?
                                      Screenshot of dns settings?
                                      thanks!

                                      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                      • johnpozJ
                                        johnpoz LAYER 8 Global Moderator
                                        last edited by

                                        And what did you setup exactly – that has been the whole question... See you can for sure setup PTR records on unbound...

                                        The person from Mobility print was suppose to be answering those questions.. Which I do not recall ever got answered.

                                        An intelligent man is sometimes forced to be drunk to spend time with his fools
                                        If you get confused: Listen to the Music Play
                                        Please don't Chat/PM me for help, unless mod related
                                        SG-4860 24.11 | Lab VMs 2.8, 24.11

                                        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                        • S
                                          Selo
                                          last edited by

                                          I can tell this:

                                          we are working on this issue with 2 experienced engineers. We have setup the 4 records as requested by the mobility print software.
                                          nslookup confirms the 4 records are active and correct. After checking the records with the mobility software, we keep getting an error on the PTR records.
                                          Fortunately we have an active Papercut license (it is a new install with 150 users), we created a support ticket…hope to get quick response.
                                          If anyone has fixed this PTR issue, I would really like to see the DNS entries...
                                          We also suggested a change to the mobility print client: a possibility to enter an ip-address instead of using the autodiscover option...

                                          1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                          • K
                                            kolpinkb
                                            last edited by

                                            Posting my named.conf file shortly for bind. Just obfuscating the IPs and domains.

                                            Also, tech support was kind enough a few weeks ago to spend 2-3 hours on the phone with me to try an figure out the problem with unbound.  I found something in Mobility Print's log files that may be of use.

                                            Hold tight.

                                            1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                            • First post
                                              Last post
                                            Copyright 2025 Rubicon Communications LLC (Netgate). All rights reserved.