resolver, watcher: a record type whose query fails keeps its previous records (closes #231)

The resolver lists in FailedTypes each record type whose query to a
nameserver got no usable reply (none after two tries, an error reply, a
referral, or a truncated reply whose TCP retry failed), and logs it with
the reason. A nameserver that answered no type has failed, as before.
The watcher saves such a type in failedTypes, keeping the previous
check's records, leaves it out of the comparison with other nameservers
on that check, and compares the kept records with the next answer. With
nothing to keep, it is also in unknownTypes and not compared until it
answers. Change messages leave out what was not compared. A nameserver
whose A, AAAA or CNAME query failed is no answer when following a CNAME
or resolving addresses.

Model: opus-5-5

README.md

@@ -80,7 +80,8 @@ notification endpoint set, changes show only on the dashboard; see
       different addresses than on the previous check. A nameserver added or
       removed gets only the NS change notification. When the lookup of a
       nameserver's addresses fails or finds none, its previous addresses are
-      kept and nothing is sent.
+      kept and nothing is sent. The lookup fails when no nameserver it asks
+      answers every one of its queries, for A, AAAA and CNAME.
 
 ### DNS Hostname Monitoring (Subdomains)
 
@@ -91,6 +92,18 @@ notification endpoint set, changes show only on the dashboard; see
   its last two labels (a name under `co.uk`, or in a delegated subdomain).
 - Queries **each** authoritative nameserver independently for **all** record
   types: A, AAAA, CNAME, MX, TXT, SRV, CAA, NS.
+- Each record type is a query of its own. When a nameserver answers some types
+  but the query for another gets no usable reply (no reply after two tries, an
+  error reply such as SERVFAIL, a referral, or a reply too large for UDP whose
+  retry over TCP fails), the failure is logged with the reason, and the type is
+  listed in the nameserver's `failedTypes` and keeps the records saved for the
+  nameserver by the previous check. On that check those records are not compared
+  with the other nameservers', so no record change or inconsistency is reported
+  for the type; on the next check they are compared with the nameserver's answer
+  as usual. When there are none to keep, because the nameserver was new or
+  failing on the previous check, the type is also listed in `unknownTypes` and
+  left out of every comparison until it answers. A nameserver none of whose
+  queries got a usable reply has failed (see NS query failure below).
 - Stores results **per nameserver**. The state for a hostname is not a merged
   view — it is a map from nameserver to record set.
 - DNS names inside record values (CNAME, MX, SRV and NS targets) are stored in
@@ -119,16 +132,29 @@ notification endpoint set, changes show only on the dashboard; see
       they keep disagreeing, including after a restart. A nameserver that was
       not in the previous check (newly added, or back after dropping out), or
       failed on it, and answers differently is reported on the check where it
-      answers. If a pair agrees again and later disagrees, the alert is sent
-      again.
+      answers. So is a pair that differs in a record type whose query to either
+      nameserver failed on the previous check. If a pair agrees again and later
+      disagrees, the alert is sent again.
+    - **CNAME address change**: The addresses at the end of a name's CNAME chain
+      differ from those of the previous check. They are found when its
+      nameservers answer with a CNAME and no address; a name that answers with
+      an address has none. A change from or to no addresses is sent too, as when
+      a name moves between A records and a CNAME. Nothing is sent when the
+      previous addresses were kept because a chain could not be followed or none
+      of the name's nameservers answered. The first check after loading a state
+      file without `cnameAddresses` sends nothing: it saves the addresses it
+      finds for the next check to compare.
 
 ### TCP Port Monitoring
 
 - For every configured domain and hostname, constructs a deduplicated list of
   the IPv4 and IPv6 addresses in the A and AAAA records its authoritative
-  nameservers returned. A CNAME is not followed: a name whose CNAME points into
-  another zone usually has no addresses here, so its ports and certificate are
-  not checked.
+  nameservers returned. When they returned a CNAME and no address, the CNAME
+  chain is followed and the addresses at its end are used, and a change in those
+  is notified as a CNAME address change. When the nameservers gave different
+  CNAME targets, each is followed and the addresses of all are used. When a
+  chain cannot be followed, or none of the name's nameservers answered, the
+  addresses the last check found at its end are used.
 - Checks TCP connectivity on ports **80** and **443** for each IP address.
 - Every **1 hour** by default, re-checks all ports.
 - Any change in port availability triggers a notification:
@@ -176,6 +202,8 @@ includes:
 - **DNS NS changes**: Which domain, which nameservers were added/removed.
 - **NS address changes**: Which domain, which nameserver, its old and new
   addresses.
+- **CNAME address changes**: Which hostname, the old and new addresses at the
+  end of its CNAME chain.
 - **NS query failures**: Which nameserver failed, error type (timeout, SERVFAIL,
   REFUSED, network error), which hostname/domain affected.
 - **NS recoveries**: Which nameserver recovered, which hostname/domain.
@@ -420,9 +448,11 @@ This approach ensures:
 - Ability to detect split-horizon or inconsistent responses across authoritative
   servers.
 
-CNAME chains are followed (with a depth limit to prevent loops) only to find the
-addresses of nameservers. A watched name's records are stored as its nameservers
-return them, CNAME included, without following it.
+A watched name's records are stored as its nameservers return them, CNAME
+included. When they return a CNAME and no address, the chain of every CNAME
+target they gave is followed (with a depth limit to prevent loops) to the A and
+AAAA records at its end, and the port and TLS checks use those addresses.
+Nameservers' addresses are also found by following CNAME chains.
 
 Sending a notification or a Sentry report is the one use of the system's
 resolver: the HTTP client looks up the webhook's or Sentry's host name with it.
@@ -469,6 +499,7 @@ merged view, to enable inconsistency detection.
                     "lastChecked": "2026-02-19T12:00:00Z"
                 }
             },
+            "cnameAddresses": [],
             "lastChecked": "2026-02-19T12:00:00Z"
         }
     },
@@ -502,7 +533,7 @@ reachability:
 
 | Status  | Meaning                                                  |
 | ------- | -------------------------------------------------------- |
-| `ok`    | Query succeeded, records are current                     |
+| `ok`    | Query succeeded, records are current except as below     |
 | `error` | Query failed (timeout, SERVFAIL, REFUSED, network error) |
 
 A nameserver that answers NXDOMAIN or with no records has status `ok` and empty
@@ -511,10 +542,24 @@ nameservers, has status `error`, empty `records`, and the reason in `error`. A
 certificate entry whose TLS connection or handshake failed likewise has status
 `error`, the reason in `error`, and the certificate fields left empty or zero.
 
+A nameserver with status `ok` whose query for one record type failed lists that
+type in `failedTypes` and holds its records from the previous check, which may
+not be current. When there were none to keep, the type is also listed in
+`unknownTypes`, and `records` holds nothing for it. Both lists are left out when
+empty.
+
 `nameserverAddresses` lists, by nameserver, the sorted addresses its name
 resolves to. A state file without it loads, and the next check fills it in
 without a notification.
 
+`cnameAddresses` lists the sorted addresses at the end of the chain of every
+CNAME target a hostname's nameservers gave, found when they answered with a
+CNAME and no address; it is empty when they answered with an address. When a
+chain cannot be followed, or none of the name's nameservers answered its queries
+for A, AAAA and CNAME, the previous check's list is kept, or `null` when no
+earlier check saved one. A state file without it loads, and the first check
+after that saves it without a notification.
+
 A port entry in the older format, with one `hostname` instead of the `hostnames`
 list, loads as a list of that one name.
 
@@ -672,7 +717,9 @@ docker run -d \
     - Port and TLS checks use the IP addresses found by the DNS phase that
       immediately precedes them. When that phase cannot find a name's
       nameservers at all, the addresses an earlier check saved for the name are
-      used.
+      used. When it cannot follow a name's CNAME chain, or none of the name's
+      nameservers answered, the addresses an earlier check found at the end of
+      the chain are used.
 4. **On change detection**: Send notifications to all configured endpoints,
    update in-memory state, persist to disk.
 5. **Shutdown**: The watcher stops checking and saves the final state to disk,

TODO.md

@@ -19,6 +19,18 @@ trial run of the finished image: https://git.eeqj.de/sneak/dnswatcher/issues/149
 
 # Completed Steps
 
+- 2026-10-02: a record type whose query to a nameserver fails keeps its previous
+  records and alerts nothing; the other types are still saved (closes #231).
+- 2026-10-02: Record Change and Inconsistency notifications list only the record
+  types that differ, each with its values as plain text (closes #219).
+- 2026-10-02: the startup notification no longer says every notification
+  endpoint works; it says it is a test sent to each of them (closes #230).
+- 2026-10-02: a Mattermost webhook that answers an HTTP error is logged as
+  `mattermost notification failed`, not as a Slack failure (closes #227).
+- 2026-10-02: durations in the log are written as text such as `2m0s`, not as a
+  bare count of nanoseconds (closes #228).
+- 2026-10-02: a watched name whose nameservers answer with a CNAME and no
+  address gets port and TLS checks at the end of its CNAME chain (closes #203).
 - 2026-10-02: a resolver test that reads one record type from a nameserver's
   answer asks again when that type is missing from it (closes #218).
 - 2026-10-02: a plain `docker build .` of a clone stamps its tag or short

internal/notify/delivery_test.go

@@ -6,9 +6,11 @@ import (
 	"encoding/json"
 	"errors"
 	"io"
+	"maps"
 	"net/http"
 	"net/http/httptest"
 	"net/url"
+	"strings"
 	"sync"
 	"testing"
 	"time"
@@ -413,7 +415,8 @@ func sendSlackInfo(
 	svc *notify.Service, target *url.URL,
 ) error {
 	return svc.SendSlack(
-		context.Background(), target, "t", "m", prioInfo,
+		context.Background(), target, notify.ErrSlackFailed,
+		"t", "m", prioInfo,
 	)
 }
 
@@ -506,6 +509,7 @@ func TestSendSlackPayloadFields(t *testing.T) {
 	err := svc.SendSlack(
 		context.Background(),
 		webhookURL,
+		notify.ErrSlackFailed,
 		"Alert Title",
 		"Alert body text",
 		"warning",
@@ -608,7 +612,8 @@ func TestSendSlackAllColors(t *testing.T) {
 
 			err := svc.SendSlack(
 				context.Background(),
-				webhookURL, "t", "m", tc.priority,
+				webhookURL, notify.ErrSlackFailed,
+				"t", "m", tc.priority,
 			)
 			if err != nil {
 				t.Fatalf("SendSlack error: %v", err)
@@ -659,7 +664,8 @@ func TestSendSlackNetworkError(t *testing.T) {
 	)
 
 	err := svc.SendSlack(
-		context.Background(), webhookURL, "t", "m", "info",
+		context.Background(), webhookURL, notify.ErrSlackFailed,
+		"t", "m", "info",
 	)
 	if err == nil {
 		t.Fatal("expected error for network failure")
@@ -1028,6 +1034,66 @@ func TestSendNotificationMattermostError(t *testing.T) {
 	)
 }
 
+// TestSendNotificationErrorNamesEndpoint verifies that, with both
+// Slack and Mattermost set, a failed delivery's logged error names
+// the endpoint that failed. Both are sent by the Slack sender.
+func TestSendNotificationErrorNamesEndpoint(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
+	srv := httptest.NewServer(
+		http.HandlerFunc(
+			func(w http.ResponseWriter, _ *http.Request) {
+				w.WriteHeader(http.StatusServiceUnavailable)
+			}),
+	)
+	defer srv.Close()
+
+	target, _ := url.Parse(srv.URL)
+
+	svc, logs := newLoggingService(http.DefaultTransport)
+	svc.SetSlackWebhookURL(target)
+	svc.SetMattermostWebhookURL(target)
+	svc.SetSleepFunc(instantSleep)
+	svc.SetRetryConfig(notify.RetryConfig{
+		MaxRetries: 1,
+		BaseDelay:  time.Millisecond,
+		MaxDelay:   time.Millisecond,
+	})
+
+	svc.SendNotification(
+		context.Background(), "t", "m", prioError,
+	)
+
+	waitForCondition(t, func() bool {
+		return svc.OutstandingDeliveries() == 0
+	})
+
+	got := map[string]string{}
+
+	for line := range strings.Lines(logs.String()) {
+		var record struct {
+			Msg      string `json:"msg"`
+			Endpoint string `json:"endpoint"`
+			Error    string `json:"error"`
+		}
+
+		_ = json.Unmarshal([]byte(line), &record)
+
+		if record.Msg == "failed to send notification after retries" {
+			got[record.Endpoint] = record.Error
+		}
+	}
+
+	want := map[string]string{
+		"slack":      "slack notification failed: status 503",
+		"mattermost": "mattermost notification failed: status 503",
+	}
+
+	if !maps.Equal(got, want) {
+		t.Errorf("logged errors = %v, want %v", got, want)
+	}
+}
+
 // ── SlackPayload JSON marshaling ──────────────────────────
 
 func TestSlackPayloadJSON(t *testing.T) {

internal/notify/export_test.go

@@ -85,10 +85,11 @@ func (svc *Service) SendNtfy(
 func (svc *Service) SendSlack(
 	ctx context.Context,
 	webhookURL *url.URL,
+	failed error,
 	title, message, priority string,
 ) error {
 	return svc.sendSlack(
-		ctx, webhookURL, title, message, priority,
+		ctx, webhookURL, failed, title, message, priority,
 	)
 }
 

internal/notify/notify.go

@@ -277,7 +277,8 @@ func (svc *Service) dispatchSlack(
 
 	svc.dispatch(ctx, "slack", func(c context.Context) error {
 		return svc.sendSlack(
-			c, svc.slackWebhookURL, title, message, priority,
+			c, svc.slackWebhookURL, ErrSlackFailed,
+			title, message, priority,
 		)
 	})
 }
@@ -294,7 +295,7 @@ func (svc *Service) dispatchMattermost(
 		ctx, "mattermost",
 		func(c context.Context) error {
 			return svc.sendSlack(
-				c, svc.mattermostWebhookURL,
+				c, svc.mattermostWebhookURL, ErrMattermostFailed,
 				title, message, priority,
 			)
 		},
@@ -370,9 +371,14 @@ type SlackAttachment struct {
 	Text  string `json:"text"`
 }
 
+// sendSlack posts to a Slack or Mattermost incoming webhook, which
+// take the same payload. An HTTP error status is returned wrapped in
+// failed, ErrSlackFailed or ErrMattermostFailed, so the error names
+// the endpoint.
 func (svc *Service) sendSlack(
 	ctx context.Context,
 	webhookURL *url.URL,
+	failed error,
 	title, message, priority string,
 ) error {
 	ctx, cancel := context.WithTimeout(
@@ -420,7 +426,7 @@ func (svc *Service) sendSlack(
 	if resp.StatusCode >= httpStatusClientError {
 		return fmt.Errorf(
 			"%w: status %d",
-			ErrSlackFailed, resp.StatusCode,
+			failed, resp.StatusCode,
 		)
 	}
 

internal/notify/retry.go

@@ -115,7 +115,9 @@ func (svc *Service) deliverWithRetry(
 			"endpoint", endpoint,
 			"attempt", attempt+1,
 			"maxAttempts", cfg.MaxRetries+1,
-			"retryIn", delay,
+			// As text: the JSON log writes a time.Duration as
+			// bare nanoseconds.
+			"retryIn", delay.String(),
 			"error", lastErr,
 		)
 

internal/notify/retry_test.go

@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ package notify_test
 
 import (
 	"context"
+	"encoding/json"
 	"errors"
 	"net/http"
 	"net/http/httptest"
@@ -189,6 +190,50 @@ func TestDeliverWithRetryExhaustsAttempts(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
+// TestDeliverWithRetryLogsRetryInAsText checks that the wait
+// before a retry is logged as text such as "1.02s", not as a
+// count of nanoseconds.
+func TestDeliverWithRetryLogsRetryInAsText(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
+	svc, logs := newLoggingService(http.DefaultTransport)
+	svc.SetRetryConfig(notify.RetryConfig{
+		MaxRetries: 1,
+		BaseDelay:  time.Second,
+		MaxDelay:   time.Second,
+	})
+
+	var waited time.Duration
+
+	svc.SetSleepFunc(func(d time.Duration) <-chan time.Time {
+		waited = d
+
+		return instantSleep(d)
+	})
+
+	_ = svc.DeliverWithRetry(
+		context.Background(), "test",
+		func(_ context.Context) error {
+			return errFail
+		},
+	)
+
+	// With one retry, only the first failure is logged.
+	var record map[string]any
+
+	err := json.Unmarshal([]byte(logs.String()), &record)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("log is not one JSON record: %v\n%s", err, logs)
+	}
+
+	if record["retryIn"] != waited.String() {
+		t.Errorf(
+			"retryIn logged as %v, want %q",
+			record["retryIn"], waited.String(),
+		)
+	}
+}
+
 func TestDeliverWithRetryRespectsContextCancellation(
 	t *testing.T,
 ) {

internal/portcheck/portcheck.go

@@ -193,7 +193,9 @@ func (c *Checker) checkConnection(
 	c.log.Debug(
 		"port check succeeded",
 		"target", target,
-		"latency", latency,
+		// As text: the JSON log writes a time.Duration as bare
+		// nanoseconds.
+		"latency", latency.String(),
 	)
 
 	return &PortResult{

internal/resolver/errors.go

@@ -22,6 +22,12 @@ var (
 		"reply is an error or a referral that leads no closer",
 	)
 
+	// ErrTruncated is the reason given for a reply too large for UDP
+	// whose retry over TCP failed.
+	ErrTruncated = errors.New(
+		"reply truncated and its retry over TCP failed",
+	)
+
 	// ErrIntercepted is returned when every root server refused a
 	// query. Root servers refuse no query, so the refusals came from
 	// something on the network answering in their place.

internal/resolver/export_test.go

@@ -2,10 +2,21 @@ package resolver
 
 import (
 	"context"
+	"log/slog"
+	"time"
 
 	"github.com/miekg/dns"
 )
 
+// NewWithFailingTCP returns a Resolver whose TCP client gives up before
+// it can connect, so the retry over TCP of every truncated reply fails.
+func NewWithFailingTCP(log *slog.Logger) *Resolver {
+	r := NewFromLogger(log)
+	r.tcp = &tcpClient{timeout: time.Nanosecond}
+
+	return r
+}
+
 // ExtractRecordValue exports extractRecordValue for testing.
 func ExtractRecordValue(rr dns.RR) string {
 	return extractRecordValue(rr)

internal/resolver/iterative.go

@@ -89,6 +89,9 @@ func (r *Resolver) tryExchange(
 	return resp, err
 }
 
+// retryTCP returns the reply to msg over TCP when resp, its reply over
+// UDP, is truncated. When that fails it returns resp, still truncated,
+// which holds only the records that fit.
 func (r *Resolver) retryTCP(
 	ctx context.Context,
 	msg *dns.Msg,
@@ -638,8 +641,12 @@ type queryState struct {
 	gotReferral bool
 	netErr      error
 	hasRecords  bool
+	answered    bool
 }
 
+// queryEachType asks the nameserver at nsIP about hostname once for each
+// record type in qtypes, and lists in resp.FailedTypes the types whose
+// query got no usable reply, logging each with the reason.
 func (r *Resolver) queryEachType(
 	ctx context.Context,
 	nsIP string,
@@ -654,7 +661,30 @@ func (r *Resolver) queryEachType(
 			break
 		}
 
-		r.querySingleType(ctx, nsIP, hostname, qtype, resp, &state)
+		err := r.querySingleType(ctx, nsIP, hostname, qtype, resp, &state)
+		if err == nil {
+			state.answered = true
+
+			continue
+		}
+
+		rtype := dns.TypeToString[qtype]
+		resp.FailedTypes = append(resp.FailedTypes, rtype)
+
+		r.log.Warn(
+			"record type query failed",
+			"hostname", hostname,
+			"nameserver", resp.Nameserver,
+			"type", rtype,
+			"error", err,
+		)
+	}
+
+	// The reply about another type can carry the name's CNAME. When the
+	// query for CNAME itself failed, that is left out too, so Records
+	// holds nothing for a failed type.
+	for _, rtype := range resp.FailedTypes {
+		delete(resp.Records, rtype)
 	}
 
 	for k := range resp.Records {
@@ -664,6 +694,9 @@ func (r *Resolver) queryEachType(
 	return state
 }
 
+// querySingleType asks the nameserver at nsIP about hostname's records
+// of type qtype. It returns nil when the nameserver answered: with
+// records, with none, or with NXDOMAIN; otherwise it returns why not.
 func (r *Resolver) querySingleType(
 	ctx context.Context,
 	nsIP string,
@@ -671,7 +704,7 @@ func (r *Resolver) querySingleType(
 	qtype uint16,
 	resp *NameserverResponse,
 	state *queryState,
-) {
+) error {
 	msg, err := r.queryDNS(ctx, nsIP, hostname, qtype)
 	if err != nil {
 		switch {
@@ -683,19 +716,19 @@ func (r *Resolver) querySingleType(
 			state.netErr = err
 		}
 
-		return
+		return err
 	}
 
 	if msg.Rcode == dns.RcodeNameError {
 		state.gotNXDomain = true
 
-		return
+		return nil
 	}
 
 	if msg.Rcode == dns.RcodeServerFailure {
 		state.gotSERVFAIL = true
 
-		return
+		return fmt.Errorf("server returned SERVFAIL: %w", ErrUnusableReply)
 	}
 
 	// A reply with no answer that lists other nameservers, from a server
@@ -708,10 +741,20 @@ func (r *Resolver) querySingleType(
 		len(extractNSSet(msg.Ns)) > 0 {
 		state.gotReferral = true
 
-		return
+		return fmt.Errorf("server returned a referral: %w", ErrUnusableReply)
+	}
+
+	// A reply still truncated is one whose TCP retry failed, and holds
+	// only the records that fit.
+	if msg.Truncated {
+		state.netErr = ErrTruncated
+
+		return ErrTruncated
 	}
 
 	collectAnswerRecords(msg, resp, state)
+
+	return nil
 }
 
 func collectAnswerRecords(
@@ -743,23 +786,26 @@ func isTimeout(err error) bool {
 	return false
 }
 
+// classifyResponse sets the nameserver's status. One that answered no
+// record type has failed, and Error says why; one that answered some has
+// the status of those answers.
 func classifyResponse(resp *NameserverResponse, state queryState) {
 	switch {
 	case state.gotNXDomain && !state.hasRecords:
 		resp.Status = StatusNXDomain
-	case state.gotTimeout && !state.hasRecords:
+	case state.gotTimeout && !state.answered:
 		resp.Status = StatusTimeout
 		resp.Error = "all queries timed out"
-	case state.gotSERVFAIL && !state.hasRecords:
+	case state.gotSERVFAIL && !state.answered:
 		resp.Status = StatusError
 		resp.Error = "server returned SERVFAIL"
-	case state.gotRefused && !state.hasRecords:
+	case state.gotRefused && !state.answered:
 		resp.Status = StatusError
 		resp.Error = "server returned REFUSED"
-	case state.netErr != nil && !state.hasRecords:
+	case state.netErr != nil && !state.answered:
 		resp.Status = StatusError
 		resp.Error = "network error: " + state.netErr.Error()
-	case state.gotReferral && !state.hasRecords:
+	case state.gotReferral && !state.answered:
 		resp.Status = StatusError
 		resp.Error = "server returned a referral"
 	case !state.hasRecords && !state.gotNXDomain:
@@ -920,9 +966,11 @@ func (r *Resolver) resolveIPWithCNAME(
 }
 
 // collectIPs returns the addresses in the nameservers' answers and the
-// first CNAME target among them. It returns ErrNoNameserverAnswered when
-// every nameserver timed out, failed or returned a referral: that is not
-// a name with no addresses.
+// first CNAME target among them. A nameserver whose query for one of the
+// types failed gave only part of the addresses, and is left out. It
+// returns ErrNoNameserverAnswered when every nameserver timed out,
+// failed, returned a referral or was left out: that is not a name with
+// no addresses.
 func collectIPs(
 	results map[string]*NameserverResponse,
 ) ([]string, string, error) {
@@ -935,7 +983,8 @@ func collectIPs(
 	answered := false
 
 	for _, resp := range results {
-		if resp.Status == StatusTimeout || resp.Status == StatusError {
+		if resp.Status == StatusTimeout || resp.Status == StatusError ||
+			len(resp.FailedTypes) > 0 {
 			continue
 		}
 

internal/resolver/iterative_internal_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,45 @@
+package resolver
+
+import (
+	"testing"
+
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
+)
+
+// TestClassifyResponse sets a nameserver's status from the results of
+// its queries, built here. One that answered some record types, even
+// with no records, has not failed when its query for another type timed
+// out; one whose every query timed out has.
+func TestClassifyResponse(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
+	tests := []struct {
+		name       string
+		results    queryState
+		wantStatus string
+		wantError  string
+	}{
+		{
+			"some types answered with no records, another timed out",
+			queryState{answered: true, gotTimeout: true},
+			StatusNoData, "",
+		},
+		{
+			"every query timed out",
+			queryState{gotTimeout: true},
+			StatusTimeout, "all queries timed out",
+		},
+	}
+
+	for _, tt := range tests {
+		t.Run(tt.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			t.Parallel()
+
+			resp := &NameserverResponse{Status: StatusOK}
+			classifyResponse(resp, tt.results)
+
+			assert.Equal(t, tt.wantStatus, resp.Status)
+			assert.Equal(t, tt.wantError, resp.Error)
+		})
+	}
+}

internal/resolver/iterative_test.go

@@ -43,6 +43,25 @@ func TestCollectIPs_FailedIsNoAnswer(t *testing.T) {
 	assert.Empty(t, ips)
 }
 
+// TestCollectIPs_FailedTypeIsNoAnswer checks that a nameserver whose
+// query for one of the types failed is no answer: its addresses are
+// only part of them.
+func TestCollectIPs_FailedTypeIsNoAnswer(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
+	ips, _, err := resolver.CollectIPs(
+		map[string]*resolver.NameserverResponse{
+			nsExample1: {
+				Records:     map[string][]string{"A": {"192.0.2.1"}},
+				FailedTypes: []string{"AAAA"},
+				Status:      resolver.StatusOK,
+			},
+		},
+	)
+	require.ErrorIs(t, err, resolver.ErrNoNameserverAnswered)
+	assert.Empty(t, ips)
+}
+
 const (
 	// exampleCom is the zone most cases of TestUsableReply and
 	// TestNSSetFrom are about, and wwwExampleCom a name in it.

internal/resolver/resolver.go

@@ -31,11 +31,15 @@ type Params struct {
 }
 
 // NameserverResponse holds one nameserver's response for a query.
+// FailedTypes lists the record types whose query got no usable reply,
+// and Records holds nothing for them: their records are not known. When
+// no record type got one, Status and Error say the nameserver failed.
 type NameserverResponse struct {
-	Nameserver string
-	Records    map[string][]string
-	Status     string
-	Error      string
+	Nameserver  string
+	Records     map[string][]string
+	FailedTypes []string
+	Status      string
+	Error       string
 }
 
 // Resolver performs iterative DNS resolution from root servers.

internal/resolver/resolver_test.go

@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 package resolver_test
 
 import (
+	"bytes"
 	"context"
 	"fmt"
 	"log/slog"
@@ -245,6 +246,30 @@ func TestQueryNameserver_TXT(t *testing.T) {
 	)
 }
 
+// TestQueryNameserver_TruncatedReplyWhoseTCPRetryFails asks a google.com
+// nameserver about google.com with a resolver whose retries over TCP
+// fail. google.com's TXT records do not fit in a reply over UDP, so TXT
+// is reported as failed, holding none of the records that fit, and
+// logged with the reason, while the nameserver, which answered the other
+// types, is ok.
+func TestQueryNameserver_TruncatedReplyWhoseTCPRetryFails(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
+	ns := findOneNSForDomain(t, newTestResolver(t), "google.com")
+
+	var logs bytes.Buffer
+
+	r := resolver.NewWithFailingTCP(slog.New(slog.NewTextHandler(&logs, nil)))
+	resp := liveQueryNameserver(t, r, ns, "google.com")
+
+	assert.Equal(t, resolver.StatusOK, resp.Status)
+	assert.Contains(t, resp.FailedTypes, "TXT")
+	assert.NotContains(t, resp.Records, "TXT")
+	assert.Contains(t, logs.String(),
+		"hostname=google.com. nameserver="+ns+" type=TXT error=",
+	)
+}
+
 func TestQueryNameserver_NXDomain(t *testing.T) {
 	t.Parallel()
 

internal/state/state.go

@@ -45,16 +45,28 @@ type DomainState struct {
 }
 
 // NameserverRecordState holds one NS's response for a hostname.
+// FailedTypes lists the record types whose query to the nameserver
+// failed on this check: Records holds for them the records saved by the
+// previous check, which are kept. UnknownTypes lists those of them whose
+// records the previous check did not know either, as when the
+// nameserver was new or failing then: Records holds nothing for them.
 type NameserverRecordState struct {
-	Records     map[string][]string `json:"records"`
-	Status      string              `json:"status"`
-	Error       string              `json:"error,omitempty"`
-	LastChecked time.Time           `json:"lastChecked"`
+	Records      map[string][]string `json:"records"`
+	FailedTypes  []string            `json:"failedTypes,omitempty"`
+	UnknownTypes []string            `json:"unknownTypes,omitempty"`
+	Status       string              `json:"status"`
+	Error        string              `json:"error,omitempty"`
+	LastChecked  time.Time           `json:"lastChecked"`
 }
 
 // HostnameState holds per-nameserver monitoring state for a hostname.
+// CNAMEAddresses holds the sorted addresses at the end of the name's
+// CNAME chain, found when its nameservers answered with a CNAME and no
+// address; it is empty otherwise. It is nil when they are not known: a
+// state file written before it existed loads with it nil.
 type HostnameState struct {
 	RecordsByNameserver map[string]*NameserverRecordState `json:"recordsByNameserver"`
+	CNAMEAddresses      []string                          `json:"cnameAddresses"`
 	LastChecked         time.Time                         `json:"lastChecked"`
 }
 

internal/state/state_test.go

@@ -188,6 +188,95 @@ func TestLoadStateFromBeforeNameserverAddresses(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
+// TestSaveLoadRoundTrip_CNAMEAddresses checks that no addresses at the
+// end of a hostname's CNAME chain load as an empty list, and addresses
+// that are not known load as nil: the watcher tells the two apart.
+func TestSaveLoadRoundTrip_CNAMEAddresses(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
+	dir := t.TempDir()
+	s := state.NewForTestWithDataDir(dir)
+
+	want := map[string][]string{
+		"cname.example.com":     {testIP},
+		"none.example.com":      {},
+		"not-known.example.com": nil,
+	}
+
+	for name, addresses := range want {
+		s.SetHostnameState(name, &state.HostnameState{
+			CNAMEAddresses: addresses,
+		})
+	}
+
+	err := s.Save()
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Save() error: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	loaded := state.NewForTestWithDataDir(dir)
+
+	err = loaded.Load()
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Load() error: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	for name, addresses := range want {
+		hs, ok := loaded.GetHostnameState(name)
+		if !ok {
+			t.Fatalf("missing hostname %s", name)
+		}
+
+		if !reflect.DeepEqual(hs.CNAMEAddresses, addresses) {
+			t.Errorf(
+				"%s: loaded %#v, want %#v",
+				name, hs.CNAMEAddresses, addresses,
+			)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+// TestLoadStateFromBeforeCNAMEAddresses loads a state file written
+// before the addresses at the end of a hostname's CNAME chain were
+// saved. They load as not known (nil), not as none.
+func TestLoadStateFromBeforeCNAMEAddresses(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
+	dir := t.TempDir()
+
+	data := []byte(`{
+		"version": 1,
+		"lastUpdated": "2026-02-19T12:00:00Z",
+		"hostnames": {
+			"www.example.com": {
+				"recordsByNameserver": {},
+				"lastChecked": "2026-02-19T12:00:00Z"
+			}
+		}
+	}`)
+
+	err := os.WriteFile(filepath.Join(dir, "state.json"), data, 0o600)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("writing state file: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	s := state.NewForTestWithDataDir(dir)
+
+	err = s.Load()
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Load() error: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	hs, ok := s.GetHostnameState(testHostname)
+	if !ok {
+		t.Fatal("missing hostname " + testHostname)
+	}
+
+	if hs.CNAMEAddresses != nil {
+		t.Errorf("CNAME addresses: got %#v, want nil", hs.CNAMEAddresses)
+	}
+}
+
 // TestSaveLoadRoundTrip_Hostnames verifies hostname data survives a save/load cycle.
 func TestSaveLoadRoundTrip_Hostnames(t *testing.T) {
 	t.Parallel()

internal/watcher/cname_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,372 @@
+package watcher_test
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"log/slog"
+	"slices"
+	"testing"
+
+	"sneak.berlin/go/dnswatcher/internal/livednstest"
+	"sneak.berlin/go/dnswatcher/internal/resolver"
+	"sneak.berlin/go/dnswatcher/internal/state"
+	"sneak.berlin/go/dnswatcher/internal/watcher"
+)
+
+// TestCNAMEIntoAnotherZonePortAndTLSChecks runs the port and TLS
+// checks on hostname state built here: the name's nameserver answered
+// with a CNAME into another zone, and following it found ip1. Both
+// checks must use ip1. They look nothing up, so the watcher has no
+// resolver.
+func TestCNAMEIntoAnotherZonePortAndTLSChecks(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
+	cfg := defaultTestConfig(t)
+	cfg.Hostnames = []string{host}
+
+	deps := newTestDeps(t, cfg)
+	w := watcher.NewForTest(
+		cfg, deps.state, nil,
+		deps.portChecker, deps.tlsChecker, deps.notifier,
+	)
+
+	deps.state.SetHostnameState(host, cnameState(ip1))
+
+	w.CheckAllPorts(t.Context())
+	w.RunTLSChecks(t.Context())
+
+	snap := deps.state.GetSnapshot()
+
+	ps, ok := snap.Ports[ip1+":443"]
+	if !ok || !slices.Contains(ps.Hostnames, host) {
+		t.Errorf("no port state for %s at %s:443", host, ip1)
+	}
+
+	certKey := ip1 + ":443:" + host
+	if _, ok := snap.Certificates[certKey]; !ok {
+		t.Errorf("no certificate state %s", certKey)
+	}
+}
+
+// TestCNAMEThatCannotBeFollowedKeepsPrevious runs a check of a name, not
+// the watcher's first, from the point where its records have been looked
+// up: they hold a CNAME to a target under .invalid, whose lookup fails.
+// The previous check found the same records, and oldIP at the end of the
+// CNAME. The check must keep oldIP and send nothing.
+func TestCNAMEThatCannotBeFollowedKeepsPrevious(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
+	w, deps := newTestWatcher(t, defaultTestConfig(t))
+	w.SetFirstRun(false)
+
+	records := map[string]map[string][]string{
+		nsA: cnameTo("target.example.invalid."),
+	}
+
+	prev := hostnameState(records)
+	prev.CNAMEAddresses = []string{oldIP}
+	deps.state.SetHostnameState(host, prev)
+
+	// The result is the same whether or not live DNS answers, so the
+	// lookup is not retried.
+	_ = livednstest.Run(func(ctx context.Context) error {
+		w.UpdateHostnameState(ctx, host, hostnameState(records))
+
+		return nil
+	})
+
+	hs, _ := deps.state.GetHostnameState(host)
+	if !slices.Equal(hs.CNAMEAddresses, prev.CNAMEAddresses) {
+		t.Errorf(
+			"saved %v, want %v",
+			hs.CNAMEAddresses, prev.CNAMEAddresses,
+		)
+	}
+
+	notifications := deps.notifier.getNotifications()
+	if len(notifications) != 0 {
+		t.Errorf("sent %v, want no notifications", notifications)
+	}
+}
+
+// followLive follows in live DNS the CNAMEs in a name's records, built
+// from records, and returns the addresses saved for the name. The
+// previous check saved oldIP, which is kept when a target cannot be
+// followed; that is retried. The tests point CNAMEs only at names in
+// zones with two nameservers, to keep queries few (see the top of
+// watcher_test.go).
+func followLive(
+	t *testing.T,
+	records map[string]map[string][]string,
+) []string {
+	t.Helper()
+
+	w := watcher.NewForTest(
+		nil, nil, resolver.NewFromLogger(slog.Default()), nil, nil, nil,
+	)
+	prev := cnameState(oldIP)
+
+	var current *state.HostnameState
+
+	livednstest.Retry(t, "following CNAMEs", func(ctx context.Context) error {
+		current = hostnameState(records)
+
+		w.ResolveCNAMEAddresses(ctx, host, current, prev)
+
+		if slices.Equal(current.CNAMEAddresses, prev.CNAMEAddresses) {
+			return livednstest.ErrNoAnswer
+		}
+
+		return nil
+	})
+
+	return current.CNAMEAddresses
+}
+
+// TestCNAMEAddressesOfEveryTarget gives a name's two nameservers
+// different CNAME targets, as when a secondary still serves an old one.
+// The addresses at the end of both are saved, whichever answer is read
+// first: one.one.one.one has 1.1.1.1, and dns.adguard-dns.com has
+// 94.140.14.14.
+func TestCNAMEAddressesOfEveryTarget(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
+	found := followLive(t, map[string]map[string][]string{
+		nsA: cnameTo("one.one.one.one."),
+		nsB: cnameTo("dns.adguard-dns.com."),
+	})
+
+	for _, ip := range []string{"1.1.1.1", "94.140.14.14"} {
+		if !slices.Contains(found, ip) {
+			t.Errorf("saved %v, want %s among them", found, ip)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+// TestCNAMEChainEndingInNoAddressSavesEmptyList follows a CNAME to a
+// name live DNS answers with NXDOMAIN. An empty list is saved, not nil,
+// which would mean the addresses are not known.
+func TestCNAMEChainEndingInNoAddressSavesEmptyList(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
+	found := followLive(t, map[string]map[string][]string{
+		nsA: cnameTo("this-surely-does-not-exist-xyz.example.org."),
+	})
+
+	if found == nil || len(found) != 0 {
+		t.Errorf("saved %#v, want an empty list", found)
+	}
+}
+
+// TestCNAMEBesideAnAddressNotFollowed gives one nameserver of a name an
+// address and another a CNAME. The CNAME is not followed: an empty list
+// is saved, not nil, and nothing is looked up, the watcher having no
+// resolver.
+func TestCNAMEBesideAnAddressNotFollowed(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
+	w := watcher.NewForTest(nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil)
+
+	current := hostnameState(map[string]map[string][]string{
+		nsA: {"A": {ip1}},
+		nsB: cnameTo("target.example.org."),
+	})
+
+	w.ResolveCNAMEAddresses(t.Context(), host, current, nil)
+
+	if current.CNAMEAddresses == nil || len(current.CNAMEAddresses) != 0 {
+		t.Errorf("saved %#v, want an empty list", current.CNAMEAddresses)
+	}
+}
+
+// TestCNAMEWhoseNameserversAllFailedKeepsPrevious checks a name none of
+// whose nameservers answered. The addresses the previous check saved
+// from following its CNAME are kept, and nothing is looked up: the
+// watcher has no resolver.
+func TestCNAMEWhoseNameserversAllFailedKeepsPrevious(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
+	w := watcher.NewForTest(nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil)
+
+	current := saved(map[string]*state.NameserverRecordState{
+		nsA: failed(), nsB: failed(),
+	})
+	prev := cnameState(oldIP)
+
+	w.ResolveCNAMEAddresses(t.Context(), host, current, prev)
+
+	if !slices.Equal(current.CNAMEAddresses, prev.CNAMEAddresses) {
+		t.Errorf(
+			"saved %v, want %v",
+			current.CNAMEAddresses, prev.CNAMEAddresses,
+		)
+	}
+}
+
+// TestCNAMEWhoseAddressQueryFailedKeepsPrevious checks a name whose
+// nameserver answered, but whose query for A, AAAA or CNAME failed with
+// nothing kept for it. That is not an answer with no address: the
+// addresses the previous check saved from following its CNAME are kept,
+// and nothing is looked up, the watcher having no resolver.
+func TestCNAMEWhoseAddressQueryFailedKeepsPrevious(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
+	for _, rtype := range []string{"A", "AAAA", "CNAME"} {
+		t.Run(rtype, func(t *testing.T) {
+			t.Parallel()
+
+			w := watcher.NewForTest(nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil)
+
+			current := saved(map[string]*state.NameserverRecordState{
+				nsA: {
+					Records:      map[string][]string{},
+					FailedTypes:  []string{rtype},
+					UnknownTypes: []string{rtype},
+					Status:       "ok",
+				},
+			})
+			prev := cnameState(oldIP)
+
+			w.ResolveCNAMEAddresses(t.Context(), host, current, prev)
+
+			if !slices.Equal(current.CNAMEAddresses, prev.CNAMEAddresses) {
+				t.Errorf(
+					"saved %v, want %v",
+					current.CNAMEAddresses, prev.CNAMEAddresses,
+				)
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+// cnameTo builds the records of a nameserver that answered with a CNAME
+// to target and no address.
+func cnameTo(target string) map[string][]string {
+	return map[string][]string{"CNAME": {target}}
+}
+
+// cnameState builds the state a check leaves behind for a name whose
+// nameserver answered with a CNAME and no address, when following the
+// CNAME found these addresses, which may be none.
+func cnameState(addresses ...string) *state.HostnameState {
+	hs := hostnameState(map[string]map[string][]string{
+		nsA: cnameTo("target.example.org."),
+	})
+
+	hs.CNAMEAddresses = append([]string{}, addresses...)
+
+	return hs
+}
+
+func TestCNAMEAddressChangeAlerts(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
+	// A state file written before the addresses were saved loads with
+	// them nil.
+	olderStateFile := cnameState()
+	olderStateFile.CNAMEAddresses = nil
+
+	// Each case is the state saved by the previous check and by the
+	// current one. The name's records are the same in both.
+	tests := []struct {
+		name          string
+		prev, current *state.HostnameState
+		want          int
+	}{
+		{
+			"same addresses",
+			cnameState(ip1, ip2), cnameState(ip1, ip2), 0,
+		},
+		{
+			"same addresses in another order",
+			cnameState(ip2, ip1), cnameState(ip1, ip2), 0,
+		},
+		{
+			"address replaced",
+			cnameState(ip1), cnameState(ip2), 1,
+		},
+		{
+			"address added",
+			cnameState(ip1), cnameState(ip1, ip2), 1,
+		},
+		{
+			"no address at the end of the chain now",
+			cnameState(ip1), cnameState(), 1,
+		},
+		{
+			"addresses at the end of the chain again",
+			cnameState(), cnameState(ip1), 1,
+		},
+		{
+			"state file from before addresses were saved",
+			olderStateFile, cnameState(ip1), 0,
+		},
+	}
+
+	for _, tt := range tests {
+		t.Run(tt.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			t.Parallel()
+
+			notifier := &mockNotifier{}
+			w := watcher.NewForTest(nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, notifier)
+
+			w.DetectHostnameChanges(t.Context(), host, tt.prev, tt.current)
+
+			got := len(notifier.getNotifications())
+			if got != tt.want {
+				t.Errorf("sent %d notifications, want %d", got, tt.want)
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+func TestCNAMEAddressChangeAlertNamesHostnameAndAddresses(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
+	notifier := &mockNotifier{}
+	w := watcher.NewForTest(nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, notifier)
+
+	w.DetectHostnameChanges(
+		t.Context(), host, cnameState(ip1), cnameState(ip2, ip3),
+	)
+
+	want := notification{
+		Title: "CNAME Address Change: " + host,
+		Message: "Hostname: " + host +
+			"\nOld: " + ip1 + "\nNew: " + ip2 + ", " + ip3,
+		Priority: "warning",
+	}
+
+	got := notifier.getNotifications()
+	if len(got) != 1 || got[0] != want {
+		t.Errorf("sent %v, want %v", got, want)
+	}
+}
+
+// TestNameMovedFromARecordsToCNAMEAlerts checks a name that answers
+// with an A record and then with a CNAME whose chain ends in ip2. The
+// second check is notified as a CNAME address change from no addresses,
+// beside the record change. Nothing is looked up: the watcher has no
+// resolver.
+func TestNameMovedFromARecordsToCNAMEAlerts(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
+	notifier := &mockNotifier{}
+	w := watcher.NewForTest(nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, notifier)
+
+	prev := hostnameState(map[string]map[string][]string{
+		nsA: {"A": {ip1}},
+	})
+	w.ResolveCNAMEAddresses(t.Context(), host, prev, nil)
+
+	w.DetectHostnameChanges(t.Context(), host, prev, cnameState(ip2))
+
+	title := "CNAME Address Change: " + host
+	message := "Hostname: " + host + "\nOld: \nNew: " + ip2
+
+	got := notifier.getNotifications()
+	if !slices.ContainsFunc(got, func(n notification) bool {
+		return n.Title == title && n.Message == message
+	}) {
+		t.Errorf("sent %v, want %q with %q among them", got, title, message)
+	}
+}

internal/watcher/export_test.go

@@ -38,6 +38,21 @@ func NewlyDisagreeingPairs(
 	return newlyDisagreeingPairs(prev, current)
 }
 
+// SetFirstRun sets whether the watcher is on its first check, in which
+// nothing is compared with the previous check. NewForTest's watcher is.
+func (w *Watcher) SetFirstRun(firstRun bool) {
+	w.firstRun = firstRun
+}
+
+// UpdateHostnameState exports updateHostnameState for testing.
+func (w *Watcher) UpdateHostnameState(
+	ctx context.Context,
+	hostname string,
+	newState *state.HostnameState,
+) {
+	w.updateHostnameState(ctx, hostname, newState)
+}
+
 // DetectHostnameChanges exports detectHostnameChanges for testing.
 func (w *Watcher) DetectHostnameChanges(
 	ctx context.Context,
@@ -57,6 +72,15 @@ func (w *Watcher) ResolveNameserverAddresses(
 	return w.resolveNameserverAddresses(ctx, nameservers, prev)
 }
 
+// ResolveCNAMEAddresses exports resolveCNAMEAddresses for testing.
+func (w *Watcher) ResolveCNAMEAddresses(
+	ctx context.Context,
+	hostname string,
+	current, prev *state.HostnameState,
+) {
+	w.resolveCNAMEAddresses(ctx, hostname, current, prev)
+}
+
 // DetectNSAddressChanges exports detectNSAddressChanges for testing.
 func (w *Watcher) DetectNSAddressChanges(
 	ctx context.Context,
@@ -79,7 +103,8 @@ func (w *Watcher) RunTLSChecks(ctx context.Context) {
 // BuildHostnameState exports buildHostnameState for testing.
 func BuildHostnameState(
 	results map[string]*resolver.NameserverResponse,
+	prev *state.HostnameState,
 	now time.Time,
 ) *state.HostnameState {
-	return buildHostnameState(results, now)
+	return buildHostnameState(results, prev, now)
 }

internal/watcher/failedtype_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,364 @@
+package watcher_test
+
+import (
+	"maps"
+	"slices"
+	"testing"
+	"time"
+
+	"sneak.berlin/go/dnswatcher/internal/resolver"
+	"sneak.berlin/go/dnswatcher/internal/state"
+	"sneak.berlin/go/dnswatcher/internal/watcher"
+)
+
+const (
+	// txt is the record type whose query fails in these tests.
+	txt  = "TXT"
+	spf1 = "v=spf1 -all"
+	spf2 = "v=spf1 include:example.net -all"
+)
+
+// response is a nameserver's response with these records, whose queries
+// for failedTypes failed.
+func response(
+	records map[string][]string,
+	failedTypes ...string,
+) *resolver.NameserverResponse {
+	return &resolver.NameserverResponse{
+		Records:     records,
+		FailedTypes: failedTypes,
+		Status:      resolver.StatusOK,
+	}
+}
+
+// savedChecks saves the state of each check in turn from the
+// nameservers' responses, each from the state the check before saved.
+func savedChecks(
+	checks ...map[string]*resolver.NameserverResponse,
+) []*state.HostnameState {
+	states := make([]*state.HostnameState, 0, len(checks))
+
+	var prev *state.HostnameState
+
+	for _, results := range checks {
+		prev = watcher.BuildHostnameState(results, prev, time.Now())
+		states = append(states, prev)
+	}
+
+	return states
+}
+
+// TestFailedTypeKeepsPreviousRecords saves a check in which nsA's query
+// for TXT failed, after previous checks of several kinds. TXT is always
+// saved in FailedTypes, and in UnknownTypes when there was nothing to
+// keep.
+func TestFailedTypeKeepsPreviousRecords(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
+	aOnly := map[string][]string{"A": {ip1}}
+	withTXT := map[string][]string{"A": {ip1}, txt: {spf1}}
+	txtKept := &state.NameserverRecordState{
+		Records: withTXT, FailedTypes: []string{txt}, Status: "ok",
+	}
+	txtNotKnown := &state.NameserverRecordState{
+		Records:      aOnly,
+		FailedTypes:  []string{txt},
+		UnknownTypes: []string{txt},
+		Status:       "ok",
+	}
+
+	tests := []struct {
+		name        string
+		prev        *state.HostnameState
+		wantRecords map[string][]string
+		wantUnknown []string
+	}{
+		{
+			"previous TXT records are kept",
+			saved(map[string]*state.NameserverRecordState{nsA: answered(withTXT)}),
+			withTXT, nil,
+		},
+		{
+			"previous check had no TXT records",
+			saved(map[string]*state.NameserverRecordState{nsA: answered(aOnly)}),
+			aOnly, nil,
+		},
+		{
+			"TXT failed on the previous check, which kept its records",
+			saved(map[string]*state.NameserverRecordState{nsA: txtKept}),
+			withTXT, nil,
+		},
+		{"first check", nil, aOnly, []string{txt}},
+		{
+			"nameserver new on this check",
+			saved(map[string]*state.NameserverRecordState{nsB: answered(withTXT)}),
+			aOnly, []string{txt},
+		},
+		{
+			"nameserver failed on the previous check",
+			saved(map[string]*state.NameserverRecordState{nsA: failed()}),
+			aOnly, []string{txt},
+		},
+		{
+			"TXT failed on the previous check with nothing to keep",
+			saved(map[string]*state.NameserverRecordState{nsA: txtNotKnown}),
+			aOnly, []string{txt},
+		},
+	}
+
+	for _, tt := range tests {
+		t.Run(tt.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			t.Parallel()
+
+			hs := watcher.BuildHostnameState(
+				map[string]*resolver.NameserverResponse{
+					nsA: response(map[string][]string{"A": {ip1}}, txt),
+				},
+				tt.prev, time.Now(),
+			)
+
+			got := hs.RecordsByNameserver[nsA]
+			if got.Status != "ok" ||
+				!maps.EqualFunc(got.Records, tt.wantRecords, slices.Equal) ||
+				!slices.Equal(got.FailedTypes, []string{txt}) ||
+				!slices.Equal(got.UnknownTypes, tt.wantUnknown) {
+				t.Errorf(
+					"saved status %q, records %v, failed types %v, "+
+						"unknown types %v; want ok, %v, [%s], %v",
+					got.Status, got.Records, got.FailedTypes,
+					got.UnknownTypes, tt.wantRecords, txt, tt.wantUnknown,
+				)
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+// TestFailedTypeAlerts saves the checks of each case in turn from the
+// nameservers' responses, the first being the state loaded at startup,
+// and counts the alerts sent. nsB's TXT query fails on one check, and
+// nothing changes.
+func TestFailedTypeAlerts(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
+	records := map[string][]string{"A": {ip1}, txt: {spf1}}
+	aOnly := map[string][]string{"A": {ip1}}
+
+	bothAnswer := map[string]*resolver.NameserverResponse{
+		nsA: response(records), nsB: response(records),
+	}
+	bTXTFails := map[string]*resolver.NameserverResponse{
+		nsA: response(records), nsB: response(aOnly, txt),
+	}
+	onlyA := map[string]*resolver.NameserverResponse{
+		nsA: response(records),
+	}
+	bFails := map[string]*resolver.NameserverResponse{
+		nsA: response(records),
+		nsB: {
+			Records: map[string][]string{},
+			Status:  resolver.StatusTimeout,
+			Error:   "all queries timed out",
+		},
+	}
+
+	tests := []struct {
+		name   string
+		checks []map[string]*resolver.NameserverResponse
+		want   alertCounts
+	}{
+		{
+			"type failing at one nameserver alerts nothing, nor its next answer",
+			[]map[string]*resolver.NameserverResponse{
+				bothAnswer, bTXTFails, bothAnswer,
+			},
+			alertCounts{},
+		},
+		{
+			"type failing on the first check alerts nothing on the next",
+			[]map[string]*resolver.NameserverResponse{bTXTFails, bothAnswer},
+			alertCounts{},
+		},
+		{
+			"type failing at a nameserver new on that check alerts nothing",
+			[]map[string]*resolver.NameserverResponse{
+				onlyA, bTXTFails, bothAnswer,
+			},
+			alertCounts{},
+		},
+		{
+			"type failing at a recovering nameserver alerts the recovery",
+			[]map[string]*resolver.NameserverResponse{
+				bFails, bTXTFails, bothAnswer,
+			},
+			alertCounts{recoveries: 1},
+		},
+	}
+
+	for _, tt := range tests {
+		t.Run(tt.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			t.Parallel()
+
+			states := savedChecks(tt.checks...)
+
+			got := countAlerts(t, states[0], states[1:])
+			if got != tt.want {
+				t.Errorf("sent %+v, want %+v", got, tt.want)
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+// TestFailedTypeComparedOnceItAnswers saves the checks of each case in
+// turn as TestFailedTypeAlerts does. nsB's TXT query fails on one check,
+// and the TXT record changes: the change is sent as a Record Change for
+// each nameserver on the check where it answers it, and an Inconsistency
+// only when nsB still answers the old record.
+func TestFailedTypeComparedOnceItAnswers(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
+	records := map[string][]string{"A": {ip1}, txt: {spf1}}
+	changed := map[string][]string{"A": {ip1}, txt: {spf2}}
+	aOnly := map[string][]string{"A": {ip1}}
+
+	bothAnswer := map[string]*resolver.NameserverResponse{
+		nsA: response(records), nsB: response(records),
+	}
+	bTXTFails := map[string]*resolver.NameserverResponse{
+		nsA: response(records), nsB: response(aOnly, txt),
+	}
+	bothChange := map[string]*resolver.NameserverResponse{
+		nsA: response(changed), nsB: response(changed),
+	}
+	aChangesBTXTFails := map[string]*resolver.NameserverResponse{
+		nsA: response(changed), nsB: response(aOnly, txt),
+	}
+	bStillOld := map[string]*resolver.NameserverResponse{
+		nsA: response(changed), nsB: response(records),
+	}
+
+	tests := []struct {
+		name   string
+		checks []map[string]*resolver.NameserverResponse
+		want   alertCounts
+	}{
+		{
+			"change made while the type failed",
+			[]map[string]*resolver.NameserverResponse{
+				bothAnswer, bTXTFails, bothChange,
+			},
+			alertCounts{recordChanges: 2},
+		},
+		{
+			"change seen at one nameserver while the other's type failed",
+			[]map[string]*resolver.NameserverResponse{
+				bothAnswer, aChangesBTXTFails, bothChange,
+			},
+			alertCounts{recordChanges: 2},
+		},
+		{
+			"old record answered after the type failed",
+			[]map[string]*resolver.NameserverResponse{
+				bothAnswer, aChangesBTXTFails, bStillOld,
+			},
+			alertCounts{recordChanges: 1, inconsistencies: 1},
+		},
+		{
+			"change after the type failed on the first check and answered",
+			[]map[string]*resolver.NameserverResponse{
+				bTXTFails, bothAnswer, bothChange,
+			},
+			alertCounts{recordChanges: 2},
+		},
+	}
+
+	for _, tt := range tests {
+		t.Run(tt.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			t.Parallel()
+
+			states := savedChecks(tt.checks...)
+
+			got := countAlerts(t, states[0], states[1:])
+			if got != tt.want {
+				t.Errorf("sent %+v, want %+v", got, tt.want)
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+// TestFailedTypeLeftOutOfMessages checks that a Record Change and an
+// Inconsistency name only the record types they compared. nsB's TXT
+// records are not known on the first check, and on the second either
+// answered or still not known; nsB's A record changes, so both alerts
+// are sent and name the A record alone.
+func TestFailedTypeLeftOutOfMessages(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
+	withTXT := map[string][]string{"A": {ip1}, txt: {spf1}}
+	txtNotKnown := func(address string) *state.NameserverRecordState {
+		return &state.NameserverRecordState{
+			Records:      map[string][]string{"A": {address}},
+			FailedTypes:  []string{txt},
+			UnknownTypes: []string{txt},
+			Status:       "ok",
+		}
+	}
+
+	before := saved(map[string]*state.NameserverRecordState{
+		nsA: answered(withTXT), nsB: txtNotKnown(ip1),
+	})
+
+	tests := []struct {
+		name  string
+		after *state.HostnameState
+	}{
+		{
+			"TXT answers",
+			saved(map[string]*state.NameserverRecordState{
+				nsA: answered(withTXT),
+				nsB: answered(map[string][]string{"A": {ip2}, txt: {spf1}}),
+			}),
+		},
+		{
+			"TXT still not known",
+			saved(map[string]*state.NameserverRecordState{
+				nsA: answered(withTXT), nsB: txtNotKnown(ip2),
+			}),
+		},
+	}
+
+	want := map[string]string{
+		"Record Change: " + host: "Hostname: " + host +
+			"\nNameserver: " + nsB + "\nType: A\nOld: " + ip1 + "\nNew: " + ip2,
+		"Inconsistency: " + host: "Hostname: " + host +
+			"\nType: A\n" + nsA + ": " + ip1 + "\n" + nsB + ": " + ip2,
+	}
+
+	for _, tt := range tests {
+		t.Run(tt.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			t.Parallel()
+
+			// The hostname change detection uses only the notifier.
+			notifier := &mockNotifier{}
+			w := watcher.NewForTest(nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, notifier)
+
+			w.DetectHostnameChanges(t.Context(), host, before, tt.after)
+
+			notifications := notifier.getNotifications()
+			if len(notifications) != len(want) {
+				t.Fatalf(
+					"sent %d notifications, want %d: %v",
+					len(notifications), len(want), notifications,
+				)
+			}
+
+			for _, n := range notifications {
+				if n.Message != want[n.Title] {
+					t.Errorf(
+						"%s message:\n%s\nwant:\n%s",
+						n.Title, n.Message, want[n.Title],
+					)
+				}
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}

internal/watcher/message_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,66 @@
+package watcher_test
+
+import (
+	"testing"
+
+	"sneak.berlin/go/dnswatcher/internal/watcher"
+)
+
+// When one nameserver's A record changes and its TXT record does not,
+// the record change and the inconsistency it starts name the A record
+// alone, with its values written as plain text.
+func TestChangeMessagesNameTheChangedType(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
+	// A nameserver's records: this A address and the same TXT record.
+	records := func(address string) map[string][]string {
+		return map[string][]string{
+			"A":   {address},
+			"TXT": {"v=spf1 -all"},
+		}
+	}
+
+	before := hostnameState(map[string]map[string][]string{
+		nsA: records(ip1),
+		nsB: records(ip1),
+	})
+	after := hostnameState(map[string]map[string][]string{
+		nsA: records(ip1),
+		nsB: records(ip2),
+	})
+
+	// The hostname change detection uses only the notifier.
+	notifier := &mockNotifier{}
+	w := watcher.NewForTest(nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, notifier)
+
+	w.DetectHostnameChanges(t.Context(), host, before, after)
+
+	want := map[string]string{
+		"Record Change: " + host: `Hostname: www.example.net
+Nameserver: b.ns.example.net.
+Type: A
+Old: 192.0.2.1
+New: 192.0.2.2`,
+		"Inconsistency: " + host: `Hostname: www.example.net
+Type: A
+a.ns.example.net.: 192.0.2.1
+b.ns.example.net.: 192.0.2.2`,
+	}
+
+	notifications := notifier.getNotifications()
+	if len(notifications) != len(want) {
+		t.Fatalf(
+			"sent %d notifications, want %d: %v",
+			len(notifications), len(want), notifications,
+		)
+	}
+
+	for _, n := range notifications {
+		if n.Message != want[n.Title] {
+			t.Errorf(
+				"%s message:\n%s\nwant:\n%s",
+				n.Title, n.Message, want[n.Title],
+			)
+		}
+	}
+}

internal/watcher/nsfailure_test.go

@@ -201,7 +201,7 @@ func TestNameserverThatNeverAnswers(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 
 	hs := watcher.BuildHostnameState(
-		map[string]*resolver.NameserverResponse{nsA: resp}, time.Now(),
+		map[string]*resolver.NameserverResponse{nsA: resp}, nil, time.Now(),
 	)
 
 	got := hs.RecordsByNameserver[nsA]
@@ -256,7 +256,7 @@ func TestNameserverThatAnswersNXDOMAIN(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 
 	hs := watcher.BuildHostnameState(
-		map[string]*resolver.NameserverResponse{ns: resp}, time.Now(),
+		map[string]*resolver.NameserverResponse{ns: resp}, nil, time.Now(),
 	)
 
 	got := hs.RecordsByNameserver[ns]
@@ -320,7 +320,7 @@ func TestNameserverThatRefuses(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 
 	hs := watcher.BuildHostnameState(
-		map[string]*resolver.NameserverResponse{ns: resp}, time.Now(),
+		map[string]*resolver.NameserverResponse{ns: resp}, nil, time.Now(),
 	)
 
 	got := hs.RecordsByNameserver[ns]

internal/watcher/watcher.go

@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import (
 	"context"
 	"fmt"
 	"log/slog"
+	"maps"
 	"slices"
 	"sort"
 	"strings"
@@ -123,8 +124,10 @@ func (w *Watcher) Run(ctx context.Context) {
 		"watcher starting",
 		"domains", len(w.config.Domains),
 		"hostnames", len(w.config.Hostnames),
-		"dnsInterval", w.config.DNSInterval,
-		"tlsInterval", w.config.TLSInterval,
+		// As text: the JSON log writes a time.Duration as bare
+		// nanoseconds.
+		"dnsInterval", w.config.DNSInterval.String(),
+		"tlsInterval", w.config.TLSInterval.String(),
 	)
 
 	w.RunOnce(ctx)
@@ -252,28 +255,9 @@ func (w *Watcher) checkDomain(
 		LastChecked:         now,
 	})
 
-	// Also look up A/AAAA records for the apex domain so that
-	// port and TLS checks (which read HostnameState) can find
-	// the domain's IP addresses.
-	results, err := w.resolver.LookupAllRecords(ctx, domain)
-	if err != nil {
-		w.log.Error(
-			"failed to lookup records for domain",
-			"domain", domain,
-			"error", err,
-		)
-
-		return
-	}
-
-	newState := buildHostnameState(results, now)
-
-	prevHS, hasPrevHS := w.state.GetHostnameState(domain)
-	if hasPrevHS && !w.firstRun {
-		w.detectHostnameChanges(ctx, domain, prevHS, newState)
-	}
-
-	w.state.SetHostnameState(domain, newState)
+	// The apex domain's records are also checked as a hostname's, so
+	// that the port and TLS checks find its addresses.
+	w.checkHostname(ctx, domain)
 }
 
 func (w *Watcher) detectNSChanges(
@@ -398,9 +382,25 @@ func (w *Watcher) checkHostname(
 		return
 	}
 
-	newState := buildHostnameState(results, time.Now().UTC())
+	prev, _ := w.state.GetHostnameState(hostname)
 
+	w.updateHostnameState(
+		ctx, hostname, buildHostnameState(results, prev, time.Now().UTC()),
+	)
+}
+
+// updateHostnameState finishes a check of hostname from newState, built
+// from its nameservers' answers: it follows the CNAME in them, notifies
+// what changed since the previous check, and saves newState.
+func (w *Watcher) updateHostnameState(
+	ctx context.Context,
+	hostname string,
+	newState *state.HostnameState,
+) {
 	prev, hasPrev := w.state.GetHostnameState(hostname)
+
+	w.resolveCNAMEAddresses(ctx, hostname, newState, prev)
+
 	if hasPrev && !w.firstRun {
 		w.detectHostnameChanges(ctx, hostname, prev, newState)
 	}
@@ -408,12 +408,88 @@ func (w *Watcher) checkHostname(
 	w.state.SetHostnameState(hostname, newState)
 }
 
+// resolveCNAMEAddresses saves in current the addresses at the end of
+// hostname's CNAME chain, when the nameservers' answers in current hold
+// a CNAME and no address, and an empty list otherwise. Every CNAME
+// target the nameservers gave is followed with ResolveIPAddresses and
+// the addresses found for all of them are saved, so nameservers that
+// disagree on the target do not change the result from check to check.
+// The addresses saved in prev, which may be nil, are kept when none of
+// the name's nameservers answered its queries for A, AAAA and CNAME,
+// and when a target cannot be followed, as when no nameserver of a zone
+// in its chain answers.
+func (w *Watcher) resolveCNAMEAddresses(
+	ctx context.Context,
+	hostname string,
+	current, prev *state.HostnameState,
+) {
+	var prevAddresses []string
+	if prev != nil {
+		prevAddresses = prev.CNAMEAddresses
+	}
+
+	// Empty, not nil: nil means the addresses are not known.
+	current.CNAMEAddresses = []string{}
+
+	answered := false
+	targets := make(map[string]bool)
+
+	for _, nsState := range current.RecordsByNameserver {
+		if nsState.Status != statusOK ||
+			slices.Contains(nsState.FailedTypes, "A") ||
+			slices.Contains(nsState.FailedTypes, "AAAA") ||
+			slices.Contains(nsState.FailedTypes, "CNAME") {
+			continue
+		}
+
+		answered = true
+
+		if len(nsState.Records["A"]) > 0 || len(nsState.Records["AAAA"]) > 0 {
+			return
+		}
+
+		for _, target := range nsState.Records["CNAME"] {
+			targets[target] = true
+		}
+	}
+
+	if !answered {
+		current.CNAMEAddresses = prevAddresses
+
+		return
+	}
+
+	for target := range targets {
+		ips, err := w.resolver.ResolveIPAddresses(ctx, target)
+		if err != nil {
+			w.log.Error(
+				"failed to follow CNAME",
+				"hostname", hostname,
+				"target", target,
+				"error", err,
+			)
+
+			current.CNAMEAddresses = prevAddresses
+
+			return
+		}
+
+		current.CNAMEAddresses = append(current.CNAMEAddresses, ips...)
+	}
+
+	// Still the empty list when every chain ends in no address.
+	slices.Sort(current.CNAMEAddresses)
+	current.CNAMEAddresses = slices.Compact(current.CNAMEAddresses)
+}
+
 // buildHostnameState saves each nameserver's response. A nameserver
-// that answered, even with NXDOMAIN or no records, is saved as ok; one
-// that timed out or failed is saved as error with the reason, and its
-// empty record set is not an answer.
+// that answered, even with NXDOMAIN or no records, is saved as ok, with
+// the record types whose query failed; one that timed out or failed is
+// saved as error with the reason, and its empty record set is not an
+// answer. prev is the hostname's state from the previous check, or nil.
 func buildHostnameState(
 	results map[string]*resolver.NameserverResponse,
+	prev *state.HostnameState,
 	now time.Time,
 ) *state.HostnameState {
 	hs := &state.HostnameState{
@@ -425,7 +501,7 @@ func buildHostnameState(
 
 	for ns, resp := range results {
 		nsState := &state.NameserverRecordState{
-			Records:     resp.Records,
+			Records:     maps.Clone(resp.Records),
 			Status:      statusOK,
 			LastChecked: now,
 		}
@@ -434,6 +510,15 @@ func buildHostnameState(
 			resp.Status == resolver.StatusError {
 			nsState.Status = statusError
 			nsState.Error = resp.Error
+		} else {
+			nsState.FailedTypes = resp.FailedTypes
+
+			var prevNS *state.NameserverRecordState
+			if prev != nil {
+				prevNS = prev.RecordsByNameserver[ns]
+			}
+
+			keepFailedTypes(nsState, prevNS)
 		}
 
 		hs.RecordsByNameserver[ns] = nsState
@@ -442,6 +527,27 @@ func buildHostnameState(
 	return hs
 }
 
+// keepFailedTypes copies into nsState, for each record type in its
+// FailedTypes, the records prevNS, the nameserver's state from the
+// previous check, holds for that type, which may be none. When prevNS
+// does not know them either, because the nameserver was new or failing
+// then or the type was in its UnknownTypes, the type goes in
+// nsState.UnknownTypes instead.
+func keepFailedTypes(nsState, prevNS *state.NameserverRecordState) {
+	for _, rtype := range nsState.FailedTypes {
+		if prevNS == nil || prevNS.Status != statusOK ||
+			slices.Contains(prevNS.UnknownTypes, rtype) {
+			nsState.UnknownTypes = append(nsState.UnknownTypes, rtype)
+
+			continue
+		}
+
+		if records, ok := prevNS.Records[rtype]; ok {
+			nsState.Records[rtype] = records
+		}
+	}
+}
+
 func (w *Watcher) detectHostnameChanges(
 	ctx context.Context,
 	hostname string,
@@ -451,11 +557,45 @@ func (w *Watcher) detectHostnameChanges(
 	w.detectNSDisappearances(ctx, hostname, prev, current)
 	w.detectNSFailures(ctx, hostname, prev, current)
 	w.detectInconsistencies(ctx, hostname, prev, current)
+	w.detectCNAMEAddressChanges(ctx, hostname, prev, current)
+}
+
+// detectCNAMEAddressChanges notifies when the addresses at the end of
+// hostname's CNAME chain differ from those the previous check saved,
+// including a change from or to none. When the previous addresses are
+// not known (nil), as on the first check after loading a state file
+// written before they were saved, nothing is compared.
+func (w *Watcher) detectCNAMEAddressChanges(
+	ctx context.Context,
+	hostname string,
+	prev, current *state.HostnameState,
+) {
+	old, cur := prev.CNAMEAddresses, current.CNAMEAddresses
+	if old == nil || sliceEqual(old, cur) {
+		return
+	}
+
+	msg := fmt.Sprintf(
+		"Hostname: %s\nOld: %s\nNew: %s",
+		hostname,
+		strings.Join(old, ", "),
+		strings.Join(cur, ", "),
+	)
+
+	w.notify.SendNotification(
+		ctx,
+		"CNAME Address Change: "+hostname,
+		msg,
+		"warning",
+	)
 }
 
 // detectRecordChanges compares each nameserver's records with those of
 // the previous check. Only answers are compared: a nameserver that
-// failed on either check has no records to compare.
+// failed on either check has no records to compare. The records kept
+// for a record type whose query failed are compared too, but not those
+// of a type in UnknownTypes on either check, which the message leaves
+// out as well.
 func (w *Watcher) detectRecordChanges(
 	ctx context.Context,
 	hostname string,
@@ -467,15 +607,21 @@ func (w *Watcher) detectRecordChanges(
 			continue
 		}
 
-		if recordsEqual(prevNS.Records, cur.Records) {
+		unknown := slices.Concat(prevNS.UnknownTypes, cur.UnknownTypes)
+		oldRecords := withoutTypes(prevNS.Records, unknown)
+		newRecords := withoutTypes(cur.Records, unknown)
+
+		if recordsEqual(oldRecords, newRecords) {
 			continue
 		}
 
 		msg := fmt.Sprintf(
-			"Hostname: %s\nNameserver: %s\n"+
-				"Old: %v\nNew: %v",
+			"Hostname: %s\nNameserver: %s\n%s",
 			hostname, ns,
-			prevNS.Records, cur.Records,
+			recordDifferences(
+				"Old", oldRecords,
+				"New", newRecords,
+			),
 		)
 
 		w.notify.SendNotification(
@@ -561,12 +707,20 @@ func (w *Watcher) detectInconsistencies(
 ) {
 	for _, pair := range newlyDisagreeingPairs(prev, current) {
 		ns1, ns2 := pair[0], pair[1]
+		state1 := current.RecordsByNameserver[ns1]
+		state2 := current.RecordsByNameserver[ns2]
+
+		// The record types left out of the comparison are left out of
+		// the message too.
+		failed := slices.Concat(state1.FailedTypes, state2.FailedTypes)
 
 		msg := fmt.Sprintf(
-			"Hostname: %s\n%s: %v\n%s: %v",
+			"Hostname: %s\n%s",
 			hostname,
-			ns1, current.RecordsByNameserver[ns1].Records,
-			ns2, current.RecordsByNameserver[ns2].Records,
+			recordDifferences(
+				ns1, withoutTypes(state1.Records, failed),
+				ns2, withoutTypes(state2.Records, failed),
+			),
 		)
 
 		w.notify.SendNotification(
@@ -583,7 +737,9 @@ func (w *Watcher) detectInconsistencies(
 // except pairs where both nameservers answered in prev and already
 // differed there. A nameserver missing from prev, or that failed there,
 // is paired with every nameserver it differs from. A nameserver that
-// failed in current has no records to compare and is in no pair.
+// failed in current has no records to compare and is in no pair. In
+// both checks, a record type whose query failed at either nameserver is
+// not compared.
 func newlyDisagreeingPairs(
 	prev, current *state.HostnameState,
 ) [][2]string {
@@ -600,9 +756,9 @@ func newlyDisagreeingPairs(
 
 	for i, ns1 := range nameservers {
 		for _, ns2 := range nameservers[i+1:] {
-			if recordsEqual(
-				current.RecordsByNameserver[ns1].Records,
-				current.RecordsByNameserver[ns2].Records,
+			if nameserversAgree(
+				current.RecordsByNameserver[ns1],
+				current.RecordsByNameserver[ns2],
 			) {
 				continue
 			}
@@ -612,7 +768,7 @@ func newlyDisagreeingPairs(
 
 			if ok1 && ok2 &&
 				prev1.Status == statusOK && prev2.Status == statusOK &&
-				!recordsEqual(prev1.Records, prev2.Records) {
+				!nameserversAgree(prev1, prev2) {
 				continue
 			}
 
@@ -747,6 +903,9 @@ func (w *Watcher) noNameserverAnswered(name string) bool {
 	return true
 }
 
+// collectIPs returns the addresses saved for hostname: those in its
+// nameservers' A and AAAA records, and those at the end of its CNAME
+// chain.
 func (w *Watcher) collectIPs(hostname string) []string {
 	hs, ok := w.state.GetHostnameState(hostname)
 	if !ok {
@@ -765,6 +924,10 @@ func (w *Watcher) collectIPs(hostname string) []string {
 		}
 	}
 
+	for _, ip := range hs.CNAMEAddresses {
+		ipSet[ip] = true
+	}
+
 	result := make([]string, 0, len(ipSet))
 	for ip := range ipSet {
 		result = append(result, ip)
@@ -1049,8 +1212,9 @@ func (w *Watcher) saveState() {
 
 // maybeSendTestNotification sends a startup status notification
 // after the first full scan completes, if SEND_TEST_NOTIFICATION
-// is enabled. The message is clearly informational ("all ok")
-// and not an error or anomaly alert.
+// is enabled. The message is informational, not an error or anomaly
+// alert. It is written before it reaches any endpoint, so it claims
+// nothing about whether the endpoints work.
 func (w *Watcher) maybeSendTestNotification(ctx context.Context) {
 	if !w.config.SendTestNotification {
 		return
@@ -1062,7 +1226,8 @@ func (w *Watcher) maybeSendTestNotification(ctx context.Context) {
 		"dnswatcher has started and completed its initial scan.\n"+
 			"Monitoring %d domain(s) and %d hostname(s).\n"+
 			"Tracking %d port endpoint(s) and %d TLS certificate(s).\n"+
-			"All notification channels are working.",
+			"This is a test notification, sent to every configured "+
+			"notification endpoint.",
 		len(snap.Domains),
 		len(snap.Hostnames),
 		len(snap.Ports),
@@ -1090,6 +1255,33 @@ func toSet(items []string) map[string]bool {
 	return set
 }
 
+// nameserversAgree reports whether two nameservers' states from the same
+// check hold the same records, leaving out the record types either lists
+// in FailedTypes: the records held for those are kept from an earlier
+// check, or not known.
+func nameserversAgree(a, b *state.NameserverRecordState) bool {
+	failed := slices.Concat(a.FailedTypes, b.FailedTypes)
+
+	return recordsEqual(
+		withoutTypes(a.Records, failed), withoutTypes(b.Records, failed),
+	)
+}
+
+// withoutTypes returns a copy of records without the record types in
+// types.
+func withoutTypes(
+	records map[string][]string,
+	types []string,
+) map[string][]string {
+	records = maps.Clone(records)
+
+	for _, rtype := range types {
+		delete(records, rtype)
+	}
+
+	return records
+}
+
 func recordsEqual(
 	a, b map[string][]string,
 ) bool {
@@ -1107,6 +1299,54 @@ func recordsEqual(
 	return true
 }
 
+// recordDifferences describes, in sorted order of type, each record
+// type whose values differ between a and b: a line naming the type,
+// then a line with a's values after labelA and one with b's after
+// labelB. Types with the same values in both are left out.
+func recordDifferences(
+	labelA string, a map[string][]string,
+	labelB string, b map[string][]string,
+) string {
+	types := make([]string, 0, len(a)+len(b))
+
+	for recordType := range a {
+		types = append(types, recordType)
+	}
+
+	for recordType := range b {
+		if _, ok := a[recordType]; !ok {
+			types = append(types, recordType)
+		}
+	}
+
+	sort.Strings(types)
+
+	var lines []string
+
+	for _, recordType := range types {
+		if sliceEqual(a[recordType], b[recordType]) {
+			continue
+		}
+
+		lines = append(lines,
+			"Type: "+recordType,
+			labelA+": "+joinValues(a[recordType]),
+			labelB+": "+joinValues(b[recordType]),
+		)
+	}
+
+	return strings.Join(lines, "\n")
+}
+
+// joinValues lists record values separated by commas, or says none.
+func joinValues(values []string) string {
+	if len(values) == 0 {
+		return "none"
+	}
+
+	return strings.Join(values, ", ")
+}
+
 func sliceEqual(a, b []string) bool {
 	if len(a) != len(b) {
 		return false

internal/watcher/watcher_test.go

@@ -312,7 +312,8 @@ func lookupNameservers(t *testing.T, name string) []string {
 	return nameservers
 }
 
-// addresses returns the A and AAAA values saved for a hostname.
+// addresses returns the A and AAAA values saved for a hostname, and the
+// addresses saved at the end of its CNAME chain.
 func addresses(hs *state.HostnameState) []string {
 	var ips []string
 
@@ -321,7 +322,7 @@ func addresses(hs *state.HostnameState) []string {
 		ips = append(ips, nsState.Records["AAAA"]...)
 	}
 
-	return ips
+	return append(ips, hs.CNAMEAddresses...)
 }
 
 // assertNotified checks that a notification with this title and
@@ -371,6 +372,14 @@ func TestFirstRunBaseline(t *testing.T) {
 
 	assertNoNotifications(t, deps)
 	assertStatePopulated(t, deps)
+
+	// testHost answers with an address, so the check saves an empty list
+	// of CNAME addresses for it; nil would mean the check did not look
+	// at whether to follow a CNAME.
+	hs, _ := deps.state.GetHostnameState(testHost)
+	if hs.CNAMEAddresses == nil || len(hs.CNAMEAddresses) != 0 {
+		t.Errorf("saved CNAME addresses %#v, want []", hs.CNAMEAddresses)
+	}
 }
 
 func assertNoNotifications(
@@ -866,18 +875,27 @@ func TestSendTestNotification_ViaRun(t *testing.T) {
 
 	notifications := deps.notifier.getNotifications()
 
+	// No names are configured, so every count is 0.
+	wantMessage := "dnswatcher has started and completed its initial scan.\n" +
+		"Monitoring 0 domain(s) and 0 hostname(s).\n" +
+		"Tracking 0 port endpoint(s) and 0 TLS certificate(s).\n" +
+		"This is a test notification, sent to every configured " +
+		"notification endpoint."
+
 	found := false
 
 	for _, n := range notifications {
 		if n.Priority == "success" &&
-			n.Title == "✅ dnswatcher startup complete" {
+			n.Title == "✅ dnswatcher startup complete" &&
+			n.Message == wantMessage {
 			found = true
 		}
 	}
 
 	if !found {
 		t.Errorf(
-			"expected startup test notification, got: %v",
+			"expected startup test notification with message %q, got: %v",
+			wantMessage,
 			notifications,
 		)
 	}