Benchmarking a DNS resolver manually is like trying to time a professional sprinter with a handheld stopwatch—it’s prone to error, hard to repeat, and misses the subtle details. During the AIORI-2 Hackathon, team Secure Sphere from the Guru Nanak Institute of Technology changed the game by implementing draft-ietf-bmwg-network-tester-cfg.
By using YANG (Yet Another Next Generation) data modeling, the team automated the entire benchmarking process, turning DNS performance measurement into a standardized, “push-button” operation.
1. The Power of YANG Automation
Traditional benchmarking often relies on custom scripts that break when a tool updates. YANG provides a universal language (RFC 7950) to describe how a test should be configured. Whether you are testing BIND, Unbound, or Knot, the YANG model ensures the instructions remain the same.
- Standardized Interface: Used pyang and libyang to parse models that define exactly how many queries to send, which DNSSEC records to check, and how long to capture packets.
- Vendor Neutrality: The same YANG configuration was used to benchmark different resolver softwares, providing a true “apples-to-apples” comparison.
2. Technical Implementation: The AIORI DNSSEC Testbed
The team integrated their automation controller into the AIORI DNSSEC Testbed, focusing on three critical performance vectors:
- Query Latency: Measuring the time from “Question” to “Answer” using asynchronous Python scripts.
- Cache Efficiency: Tracking how well the resolver remembers previous answers (TTL-based analysis).
- DNSSEC Overhead: Quantifying the “security tax”—the extra time it takes for a resolver to verify digital signatures (RRSIG/DNSKEY).
3. Key Performance Outcomes
The automation didn’t just make testing faster; it made the data more reliable. By removing human intervention, the team reduced setup time by over 40%.
| Test Scenario | Key Metric | Technical Observation |
|---|---|---|
| Baseline Latency | 42.6 ms | Extremely consistent results with < 5% variation. |
| Cache Hit Ratio | 78% | Significant speedup observed after the first “cold” query. |
| DNSSEC Penalty | +9.3 ms | A manageable overhead for the security benefits provided. |
| Automation Speed | < 1.2s | Time taken to push a full benchmark config via YANG. |
4. Overcoming Challenges: Schema Alignment
The biggest hurdle was “speaking the same language.” The team found that the IETF draft schema sometimes clashed with the native inputs of open-source tools.
“Aligning the YANG model parameters with the existing AIORI framework was a puzzle. It taught us that configuration consistency is just as important as the code itself.” — Debjeet Sen, Integration Lead
5. Impact and Future Work: Towards Post-Quantum DNS
This project serves as a cornerstone for the AIORI-IMN measurement framework. The roadmap for 2026 includes:
- PQ-DNSSEC: Benchmarking how Post-Quantum digital signatures impact resolver latency.
- Encrypted Transport: Expanding the YANG models to handle DoH (DNS over HTTPS) and DoT (DNS over TLS) handshake benchmarking.
- IETF Feedback: Submitting a technical note to the BMWG (Benchmarking Methodology Working Group) with results from these real-world tests.
6. Reflections from the Team
The sprint provided a front-row seat to how Internet standards are built. By moving from theoretical drafts to practical implementation, the team contributed directly to the tools that keep the Internet fast and secure.
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