DNS records

RP record

An RP (responsible person) record gives a contact mailbox for a name, written like the SOA contact (first dot is the @), plus an optional name whose TXT record has more details. It's rarely used today.

Record typeRP
Type number17
Used forInformation
How commonRare
Defined inRFC 1183

Format

<name> <ttl> IN RP <mailbox> <txt name>
FieldWhat it meansAccepted values
MailboxThe contact's email, with the @ written as a dot. . for none.admin.example.com.
TXT nameA name whose TXT record has more details. . for none.A host name or ..

Check an RP record

Type or paste a record in zone-file form (name, TTL, type, value) or just its value. Each part is explained as you type.

A valid RP record.

PartWhat it means
Nameserver1A name under the domain. In a dashboard for example.com, “server1” means server1.example.com.
TTL3600Resolvers may keep this answer for 1 hour before asking again. Changes can take that long to reach everyone.
ClassINInternet. Every record you'll write uses IN.
TypeRPResponsible person.
Mailboxadmin.example.com.The responsible person's email, written like SOA: the first dot is the @ (admin@example.com).
TXT namecontact.example.com.A name whose TXT record has more contact details.

Examples

A contact for one server

server1 3600 IN RP admin.example.com. contact.example.com.

admin@example.com is responsible; contact.example.com has a TXT record with a phone number.

Look up RP records

TTL

Common mistakes

  • Writing the mailbox with an @.

At your DNS host

  • Rarely offered in dashboards.

Questions

Is RP the same as WHOIS contact data?

No. WHOIS and RDAP contacts come from the registrar. RP is an optional record you publish yourself.

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