nsupdate does not handle zero length RDATA well

Nsupdate does not distinguish between a non-existing RDATA field
and an empty RDATA field when determining which action is desired
when the RDATA field is empty. This only affects a few data types,
like APL, which allow an empty RDATA field.  Document a workaround
of using the '\# 0' form for entering these specific records. e.g.

    # delete the APL RRset
    update delete IN APL
    # delete the APL record with a zero length rdata
    update delete IN APL \# 0

diff --git a/bin/nsupdate/nsupdate.rst b/bin/nsupdate/nsupdate.rst
index b98d70bbff72aee4ba55650b766c1f207cb0e37c..11389420533bad94b0df924da9ae678ba93b5c9d 100644 (file)
--- a/bin/nsupdate/nsupdate.rst
+++ b/bin/nsupdate/nsupdate.rst
@@ -354,16 +354,25 @@ The command formats and their meanings are as follows:
    ``domain-name``. The ``data`` are written in the standard text
    representation of the resource record's RDATA.
 
+   Note RDATA which is empty (e.g. APL with an zero length rdata)
+   needs to be entered using ``\# 0`` form.
+
 ``update delete domain-name ttl class type data``
    This command deletes any resource records named ``domain-name``. If ``type`` and
    ``data`` are provided, only matching resource records are removed.
    The Internet class is assumed if ``class`` is not supplied. The
    ``ttl`` is ignored, and is only allowed for compatibility.
 
+   Note RDATA which is empty (e.g. APL with an zero length rdata)
+   needs to be entered using ``\# 0`` form.
+
 ``update add domain-name ttl class type data``
    This command adds a new resource record with the specified ``ttl``, ``class``, and
    ``data``.
 
+   Note RDATA which is empty (e.g. APL with an zero length rdata)
+   needs to be entered using ``\# 0`` form.
+
 ``show``
    This command displays the current message, containing all of the prerequisites and
    updates specified since the last send.