option set: statements with a name replace only that one; forwarding over TLS documented

jarl option set tls NAME (and key, remote-servers, primaries, http, dnssec-policy, key-store, server, acl, view, zone, parental-agents) matches the name after the keyword too: setting tls cloudflare no longer replaces tls quad9. jarl option unset tls NAME removes one by its name. docs/encrypted-dns.md has forwarding to Quad9 or Cloudflare over TLS: one changeset, the options explained, several providers, checking it works, and why not over HTTPS.

Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 5.5 <noreply@anthropic.com>

CHANGELOG.md

@@ -57,6 +57,8 @@ All notable changes to Jarl are documented here. The format follows
   starts from where the records are now. The Certificates page and `jarl
   cert show` say what named uses a certificate for (DNS over TLS or HTTPS,
   on which addresses and ports).
+- docs/encrypted-dns.md: forwarding to Quad9 or Cloudflare over TLS, how to
+  check it works, and why not over HTTPS.
 - Comparing one name across views: `jarl zone diff adbraun.lol nas [A]`,
   and a **Compare** button on each record.
 
@@ -74,6 +76,10 @@ All notable changes to Jarl are documented here. The format follows
 
 ### Changed
 
+- `jarl option set tls NAME …` (and `key`, `remote-servers`, `http`,
+  `dnssec-policy`, `server` …) replaces only the statement with that name:
+  setting `tls cloudflare` used to replace `tls quad9`. `jarl option unset
+  tls cloudflare` removes one by its name.
 - **Compare views** and `jarl zone diff` are rebuilt around the view
   you're on (docs/views.md#comparing-views): a summary per view, then
   what is answered differently (a view's own records in linked zones,

cmd/jarl/config_cmds.go

@@ -586,6 +586,12 @@ func optionCmd() *cobra.Command {
 		Short: "Set an option (replaces an existing option of the same name)",
 		Long: `Set an option; VALUE is named.conf syntax without the trailing semicolon.
 
+It replaces the option of that name. Statements told apart by the name
+after the keyword (tls NAME, key NAME, remote-servers NAME, http NAME,
+dnssec-policy NAME, server ADDRESS, ...) replace only the one with that
+name: setting tls cloudflare leaves tls quad9 alone. --add adds another
+instance of any other option that may occur several times.
+
   jarl option set recursion no
   jarl option set allow-recursion '{ homelab; localhost; }'
   jarl option set forwarders '{ 1.1.1.1; 9.9.9.9; }'
@@ -610,7 +616,11 @@ func optionCmd() *cobra.Command {
 			if cmd.Flags().Changed("comment") {
 				body["comment"] = comment
 			}
+			label := optionLabel(strings.ToLower(args[0]), value)
 			for _, o := range opts {
+				if label != "" && optionLabel(o.Name, o.Value) != label {
+					continue // another tls (key, server, ...) statement
+				}
 				if o.Name == strings.ToLower(args[0]) && !multiple {
 					resp, err := c.Mutate(ctx(), "PATCH", fmt.Sprintf("/options/%d", o.ID), nil, body)
 					if err != nil {
@@ -631,7 +641,7 @@ func optionCmd() *cobra.Command {
 	set.Flags().StringVar(&comment, "comment", "", "comment")
 	set.Flags().BoolVar(&multiple, "add", false, "add another instance instead of replacing (for options that may occur several times)")
 	unset := &cobra.Command{
-		Use:   "unset NAME | unset --id ID",
+		Use:   "unset NAME [LABEL] | unset --id ID",
 		Short: "Remove an option (BIND's default applies again)",
 		RunE: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
 			c, err := newClient()
@@ -645,8 +655,8 @@ func optionCmd() *cobra.Command {
 				}
 				return report(resp)
 			}
-			if len(args) != 1 {
-				return fmt.Errorf("give the option name or --id")
+			if len(args) < 1 || len(args) > 2 {
+				return fmt.Errorf("give the option name (and the name after it, for tls NAME and the like) or --id")
 			}
 			sc, id, err := scope()
 			if err != nil {
@@ -658,15 +668,24 @@ func optionCmd() *cobra.Command {
 			}
 			var matches []api.Option
 			for _, o := range opts {
-				if o.Name == strings.ToLower(args[0]) {
+				if o.Name == strings.ToLower(args[0]) && (len(args) == 1 || strings.EqualFold(optionLabel(o.Name, o.Value), strings.Trim(args[1], `"`))) {
 					matches = append(matches, o)
 				}
 			}
 			switch len(matches) {
 			case 0:
-				return fmt.Errorf("option %s is not set here", args[0])
+				return fmt.Errorf("option %s is not set here", strings.Join(args, " "))
 			case 1:
 			default:
+				var labels []string
+				for _, o := range matches {
+					if l := optionLabel(o.Name, o.Value); l != "" {
+						labels = append(labels, l)
+					}
+				}
+				if len(labels) == len(matches) {
+					return fmt.Errorf("option %s is set %d times (%s); say which: jarl option unset %s %s", args[0], len(matches), strings.Join(labels, ", "), args[0], labels[0])
+				}
 				return fmt.Errorf("option %s is set %d times; remove one with --id", args[0], len(matches))
 			}
 			resp, err := c.Mutate(ctx(), "DELETE", fmt.Sprintf("/options/%d", matches[0].ID), nil, nil)
@@ -847,3 +866,30 @@ func settingsCmd() *cobra.Command {
 	cmd.AddCommand(show, set)
 	return cmd
 }
+
+// labelled are the statements told apart by the name after the keyword:
+// tls quad9 { ... }, key xfer { ... }, server 192.0.2.1 { ... }.
+var labelled = map[string]bool{"tls": true, "http": true, "key": true, "remote-servers": true, "primaries": true, "masters": true,
+	"parental-agents": true, "dnssec-policy": true, "key-store": true, "server": true, "view": true, "acl": true, "zone": true}
+
+// optionLabel returns the name a labelled statement's value starts with
+// ("quad9" for tls quad9 { ... }), lowercase; "" for other statements.
+func optionLabel(name, value string) string {
+	if !labelled[name] {
+		return ""
+	}
+	v := strings.TrimSpace(value)
+	if v == "" || strings.HasPrefix(v, "{") {
+		return ""
+	}
+	if strings.HasPrefix(v, `"`) {
+		if end := strings.Index(v[1:], `"`); end >= 0 {
+			return strings.ToLower(v[1 : end+1])
+		}
+	}
+	end := strings.IndexAny(v, " \t\n{;")
+	if end < 0 {
+		end = len(v)
+	}
+	return strings.ToLower(v[:end])
+}

cmd/jarl/main_test.go

@@ -232,3 +232,20 @@ func TestOutputFields(t *testing.T) {
 		}
 	}
 }
+
+func TestOptionLabel(t *testing.T) {
+	for _, c := range []struct{ name, value, want string }{
+		{"tls", `quad9 { remote-hostname "dns.quad9.net"; }`, "quad9"},
+		{"tls", `Cloudflare{ remote-hostname "cloudflare-dns.com"; }`, "cloudflare"},
+		{"key", `"xfer key" { algorithm hmac-sha256; secret "x"; }`, "xfer key"},
+		{"server", "192.0.2.1 { keys { xfer; }; }", "192.0.2.1"},
+		{"remote-servers", "secondaries { 192.0.2.53; }", "secondaries"},
+		{"forwarders", "{ 9.9.9.9; }", ""},
+		{"logging", "{ channel x { stderr; }; }", ""},
+		{"tls", "", ""},
+	} {
+		if got := optionLabel(c.name, c.value); got != c.want {
+			t.Errorf("optionLabel(%q, %q) = %q, want %q", c.name, c.value, got, c.want)
+		}
+	}
+}

docs/cli.md

@@ -482,12 +482,22 @@ jarl option set allow-transfer 'key xfer; 10.0.10.53' --zone adbraun.lol
 jarl option set allow-query '10.0.20.1-10.0.20.99; localhost' --view internal
 jarl option set response-policy '{ zone "rpz.local"; }' --view internal
 jarl option set logging '{ channel q { file "/var/log/named/query.log" versions 3 size 20m; }; category queries { q; }; }' --toplevel
+jarl option set tls 'quad9 { remote-hostname "dns.quad9.net"; ca-file "/etc/ssl/certs/ca-certificates.crt"; }' --toplevel
+jarl option set tls 'cloudflare { remote-hostname "cloudflare-dns.com"; }' --toplevel   # tls quad9 stays
+jarl option unset tls cloudflare --toplevel          # statements with a name: say which
 jarl option unset forwarders
 jarl option describe                          # every option allowed at this scope
 jarl option describe allow-query-cache        # grammar and ARM description
 jarl option generated                         # what Jarl adds to named.conf by itself, and why
 ```
 
+`option set` replaces the option of that name. Statements told apart by
+the name after the keyword (`tls NAME`, `key NAME`, `remote-servers NAME`,
+`http NAME`, `dnssec-policy NAME`, `server ADDRESS`, ...) replace only the
+one with that name; `--add` adds another instance of any other option that
+may occur several times. Forwarding to Quad9 or Cloudflare over TLS:
+[encrypted-dns.md](encrypted-dns.md#forwarding-over-tls).
+
 Options that end in a list (`allow-*`, `forwarders`, `listen-on`, ...) may
 be given without the braces: elements are separated by `;`, `,` or spaces,
 and `key NAME` and `port N` stay with their element. Options are always

docs/encrypted-dns.md

@@ -14,6 +14,10 @@ host name's address records in your private views.
 In the web UI: **Encrypted DNS** (administrators). In the CLI: `jarl
 encrypted-dns`. In the API: `/api/v1/encrypted-dns`.
 
+That is encryption between your clients and this server. For encryption
+between this server and the resolvers it forwards to (Quad9, Cloudflare),
+see [Forwarding over TLS](#forwarding-over-tls) below.
+
 ## Setting it up
 
 ```sh
@@ -151,6 +155,62 @@ What it can say:
 | not from a CA this server trusts (warning) | a staging or test CA: clients reject it unless they trust it |
 | REFUSED (warning) | it works, but this server's own address gets a view that doesn't answer for the host name |
 
+## Forwarding over TLS
+
+When a view forwards its recursive queries (to Quad9, Cloudflare, your
+ISP's resolver), named can send them over TLS, so your ISP doesn't see the
+names you look up: only connections to the forwarder on port 853. It takes
+two options, a `tls` statement for each provider (the name its certificate
+must have) and the view's `forwarders` using it. Stage them in one
+changeset, so one revert undoes them:
+
+```sh
+CS=$(jarl changeset create "internal: forward to Quad9 over TLS" -q)
+jarl option set tls 'quad9 { remote-hostname "dns.quad9.net"; ca-file "/etc/ssl/certs/ca-certificates.crt"; }' --toplevel -C $CS
+jarl option set forwarders '{ 9.9.9.9 port 853 tls quad9; 149.112.112.112 port 853 tls quad9; 2620:fe::fe port 853 tls quad9; 2620:fe::9 port 853 tls quad9; }' --view internal -C $CS
+jarl option set forward only --view internal -C $CS
+jarl changeset diff $CS        # what named.conf gets
+jarl changeset apply $CS
+# undo: jarl changeset apply $(jarl changeset revert $CS -q)
+```
+
+* **`remote-hostname` and `ca-file`** make named check the forwarder's
+  certificate against that name (Debian's CA bundle at that path). Without
+  them the connection is encrypted but anyone in between could answer.
+* **`forward only`** stops named falling back to plain DNS (to the root
+  servers) when the forwarders don't answer: lookups then fail instead
+  (SERVFAIL), which you notice, rather than quietly going unencrypted.
+* **Several providers**: a `tls` statement each, and their addresses in one
+  `forwarders` list. Setting `tls cloudflare` doesn't touch `tls quad9`:
+  `jarl option set` replaces only the statement of that name.
+
+  ```sh
+  jarl option set tls 'cloudflare { remote-hostname "cloudflare-dns.com"; ca-file "/etc/ssl/certs/ca-certificates.crt"; }' --toplevel
+  jarl option set forwarders '{ 9.9.9.9 port 853 tls quad9; 149.112.112.112 port 853 tls quad9; 1.1.1.1 port 853 tls cloudflare; 1.0.0.1 port 853 tls cloudflare; 2606:4700:4700::1111 port 853 tls cloudflare; 2606:4700:4700::1001 port 853 tls cloudflare; }' --view internal
+  ```
+
+  named sends each query to whichever forwarder has answered fastest, not
+  in order, and the providers filter differently (Quad9 blocks known
+  malicious domains, Cloudflare's 1.1.1.1 doesn't; 1.1.1.2 does, with
+  `remote-hostname "security.cloudflare-dns.com"`).
+* **DNS over HTTPS** can't be used for forwarding: BIND serves DoH to
+  clients but forwards only over plain DNS or TLS. For a DoH upstream, run
+  a local proxy (dnscrypt-proxy, cloudflared) and forward to it on
+  `127.0.0.1`.
+* Providers write their DoT address as `tls://dns.quad9.net`: the name is
+  `remote-hostname`, and the addresses it resolves to go in `forwarders`
+  (named needs addresses there, not names).
+
+**Checking it works**: Quad9 says how a query reached it.
+
+```sh
+dig +short TXT proto.on.quad9.net @YOUR-SERVER     # "dot": over TLS
+```
+
+`do53-udp` means plain DNS. `ss -tnp | grep :853` shows named's connections
+only briefly: it closes them when idle. `tcpdump -ni any port 853` shows
+the traffic as it happens.
+
 ## What Jarl checks
 
 * A `tls` statement whose files don't exist is an error

scripts/e2e.sh

@@ -497,6 +497,27 @@ run "acknowledged: info, with the reason" 0 $J exposure
 contains "info  *external  *security_open_resolver .*acknowledged by .*e2e: on purpose"
 run "take it back" 0 $J exposure unack external security_open_resolver
 run "close the resolver again" 0 $J option unset allow-recursion --view external
+# Statements told apart by their name (tls NAME, key NAME, ...): setting
+# one replaces only the one of that name.
+run "a tls statement for forwarding" 0 $J option set tls 'e2e-quad9 { remote-hostname "dns.quad9.net"; }' --toplevel
+run "a second one, without --add" 0 $J option set tls 'e2e-cf { remote-hostname "cloudflare-dns.com"; }' --toplevel
+run "both are there" 0 $J option list --toplevel
+contains "e2e-quad9"
+contains "e2e-cf"
+run "changing one leaves the other" 0 $J option set tls 'e2e-quad9 { remote-hostname "dns11.quad9.net"; }' --toplevel
+run "list" 0 $J option list --toplevel
+contains "dns11.quad9.net"
+contains "e2e-cf"
+not_contains '"dns.quad9.net"'
+run "unset needs to know which (exit 1)" 1 $J option unset tls --toplevel
+contains "say which: jarl option unset tls"
+run "forwarders over TLS" 0 $J option set forwarders '{ 9.9.9.9 port 853 tls e2e-quad9; 1.1.1.1 port 853 tls e2e-cf; }' --view internal
+run "named.conf has them" 0 grep -q 'tls e2e-quad9' $E/etc-jarl/named.conf
+run "take the forwarders out" 0 $J option unset forwarders --view internal
+run "unset one by its name" 0 $J option unset tls e2e-cf --toplevel
+run "and the other" 0 $J option unset tls e2e-quad9 --toplevel
+run "none left" 0 $J option list --toplevel
+not_contains "e2e-quad9"
 run "fix: hide the version" 0 $J exposure fix server exposure_version
 expect_dig "version.bind is hidden" "" -c CH version.bind TXT
 run "mark external private" 0 $J view update external --exposure private