IETF splits DNSOP into ops and protocol working groups

The IETF is splitting DNSOP into two working groups, carrying out the main recommendation from a DNS community consultation. DNSOP keeps its name as the operations group and continues to run DNSDISPATCH. A new Internet Area group will take protocol-oriented DNS work, with Éric Vyncke as the responsible Area Director.

Mohamed Boucadair and Vyncke announced the plan on the DNSOP list after consultation with the current chairs. Peter Thomassen is a DNSOP chair effective immediately. Ondřej Surý, a current DNSOP co-chair, will co-chair the new Internet Area group and leave the DNSOP chair role once that group is active. Jim Reid remains technical advisor and will edit both charters in parallel on the DNSOP list; Shumon Huque stays as secretary. DNSOP chairs will also circulate a draft refining the DNSDISPATCH process.

The change aims to separate operations from protocol maintenance after years of combined scope, a gap many date to the closure of DNSEXT. Paul Wouters welcomed the split as long overdue. The new group's name is still undecided. Proposals have included reviving dnsext, plain labels such as dnsdev, dnsman, or dnsint, and the playful CAMEL. Others argued for self-explanatory names over insider jokes so newcomers can find the work more easily.

Both charters are to be scoped and finalized together before the new group stands up.