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 (no reply, a code other than NOERROR or
NXDOMAIN, a referral, or a truncated reply whose TCP retry failed) and
logs it unless shutdown cut it short. A nameserver that answered no
type has failed.
The watcher saves such a type in failedTypes with the previous check's
records, leaves it out of the comparison with other nameservers on that
check, and compares it with the next answer. When the previous check
did not know its records either, it is also in unknownTypes and not
compared until it answers. 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

@@ -216,9 +216,7 @@ includes:
 - **NS recoveries**: Which nameserver recovered, which hostname/domain.
 - **NS inconsistencies**: Which nameservers disagree, what each one returned,
   which hostname or domain affected.
-- **Port changes**: Which IP:port, its new state, and the domains and the
-  hostnames that resolve to it, on a `Domains:` line and a `Hostnames:` line. A
-  line that would name nothing is left out.
+- **Port changes**: Which IP:port, its new state, all associated hostnames.
 - **TLS expiry warnings**: Expiry date and days remaining, CN, associated
   hostname and IP.
 - **TLS certificate changes**: Old and new CN and issuer, associated hostname
@@ -256,8 +254,7 @@ dnswatcher includes an unauthenticated, read-only web dashboard at the root URL
   per nameserver and status, shown as a hostname's are.
 - **Hostnames** with per-nameserver DNS records and status. For a nameserver
   whose query failed, the reason is shown in place of the records.
-- **Ports** with open/closed state and the domains and hostnames that resolve to
-  each address, in separate columns.
+- **Ports** with open/closed state and associated hostnames.
 - **TLS certificates** with CN, issuer, expiry, and status. For a failed check,
   the reason is shown in place of CN, issuer and expiry.
 - **Recent alerts** (last 100 notifications sent since the process started),
@@ -290,9 +287,7 @@ In `/api/v1/status`, each nameserver entry and certificate entry whose `status`
 is `error` also has `error`, the reason, as in the state file (see State File
 Format). A domain's own records are in its entry in `domains`, under
 `recordsByNameserver`, in the form a hostname's entry in `hostnames` has them
-under `nameservers`; `hostnames` and `counts.hostnames` hold no domain. A port
-entry lists the domains that resolve to its address in `domains`, and the
-hostnames in `hostnames`.
+under `nameservers`; `hostnames` and `counts.hostnames` hold no domain.
 
 `/metrics` is served only when `DNSWATCHER_METRICS_USERNAME` is set, behind
 Basic Auth. It has the Prometheus Go client's default metrics only (Go runtime,
@@ -588,9 +583,8 @@ 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's `hostnames` lists every name that resolves to its address,
-domains included. A port entry in the older format, with one `hostname` instead
-of the `hostnames` list, loads as a list of that one name.
+A port entry in the older format, with one `hostname` instead of the `hostnames`
+list, loads as a list of that one name.
 
 ---
 

TODO.md

@@ -21,10 +21,6 @@ trial run of the finished image: https://git.eeqj.de/sneak/dnswatcher/issues/149
 
 - 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: a Port Change notification lists the port's domains on a
-  `Domains:` line and its hostnames on a `Hostnames:` line (closes #248).
-- 2026-10-02: the dashboard's Ports table and `/api/v1/status` port entries list
-  a port's domains apart from its hostnames (closes #245).
 - 2026-10-02: nameservers a referral names without addresses are looked up,
   three deep at most; `pool.ntp.org`'s nameservers resolve (closes #221).
 - 2026-10-02: an apex domain is not counted or listed as a hostname; its records

internal/handlers/dashboard.go

@@ -45,14 +45,11 @@ func newDashboardTemplate() *template.Template {
 
 // dashboardData is the data passed to the dashboard template. Hostnames
 // and DomainRecords split the records in Snapshot.Hostnames, which also
-// holds the apex domains' own (see splitHostnames). Ports holds
-// Snapshot.Ports with each port's names split into domains and
-// hostnames, as /api/v1/status gives them (see buildPorts).
+// holds the apex domains' own (see splitHostnames).
 type dashboardData struct {
 	Snapshot      state.Snapshot
 	Hostnames     map[string]*state.HostnameState
 	DomainRecords map[string]*state.HostnameState
-	Ports         map[string]*statusPortInfo
 	Alerts        []notify.AlertEntry
 	StateAge      string
 	GeneratedAt   string
@@ -74,7 +71,6 @@ func (h *Handlers) HandleDashboard() http.HandlerFunc {
 			Snapshot:      snap,
 			Hostnames:     hostnames,
 			DomainRecords: domainRecords,
-			Ports:         buildPorts(snap),
 			Alerts:        alerts,
 			StateAge:      relTime(snap.LastUpdated),
 			GeneratedAt:   time.Now().UTC().Format("2006-01-02 15:04:05"),

internal/handlers/dashboard_test.go

@@ -205,51 +205,3 @@ func TestDashboardShowsDomainRecordsUnderDomains(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Errorf("summary bar does not say %q", summary)
 	}
 }
-
-// rowCells returns the text of each cell of a dashboard table row
-// whose cells start with tag, "<th" or "<td".
-func rowCells(row string, tag string) []string {
-	tags := regexp.MustCompile(`<[^>]*>`)
-	parts := strings.Split(row, tag)[1:]
-	cells := make([]string, 0, len(parts))
-
-	for _, cell := range parts {
-		text := tags.ReplaceAllString(tag+cell, " ")
-		cells = append(cells, strings.Join(strings.Fields(text), " "))
-	}
-
-	return cells
-}
-
-// TestDashboardPortsTellDomainsFromHostnames checks that the Ports
-// table lists an apex domain under Domains and a hostname under
-// Hostnames when both resolve to the port's address.
-func TestDashboardPortsTellDomainsFromHostnames(t *testing.T) {
-	t.Parallel()
-
-	page := get(t, newHandlersWithFailures(t).HandleDashboard())
-	ports := dashboardSection(t, page, "Ports")
-
-	headings := rowCells(dashboardRow(t, ports, "Address</th>"), "<th")
-	cells := rowCells(dashboardRow(t, ports, sharedPort), "<td")
-
-	if len(cells) != len(headings) {
-		t.Fatalf("row of %s has cells %q under headings %q",
-			sharedPort, cells, headings)
-	}
-
-	under := make(map[string]string)
-	for i, heading := range headings {
-		under[heading] = cells[i]
-	}
-
-	if under["Domains"] != testDomain {
-		t.Errorf("row of %s lists %q under Domains, want %q",
-			sharedPort, under["Domains"], testDomain)
-	}
-
-	if under["Hostnames"] != testHostname {
-		t.Errorf("row of %s lists %q under Hostnames, want %q",
-			sharedPort, under["Hostnames"], testHostname)
-	}
-}

internal/handlers/status.go

@@ -32,11 +32,8 @@ type statusHostnameInfo struct {
 }
 
 // statusPortInfo holds status information for a monitored port.
-// Domains and Hostnames list the apex domains and the hostnames that
-// resolve to its address.
 type statusPortInfo struct {
 	Open        bool      `json:"open"`
-	Domains     []string  `json:"domains"`
 	Hostnames   []string  `json:"hostnames"`
 	LastChecked time.Time `json:"lastChecked"`
 }
@@ -102,6 +99,7 @@ func buildStatusResponse(
 		LastUpdated:  snap.LastUpdated,
 		Domains:      make(map[string]*statusDomainInfo),
 		Hostnames:    make(map[string]*statusHostnameInfo),
+		Ports:        make(map[string]*statusPortInfo),
 		Certificates: make(map[string]*statusCertificateInfo),
 	}
 
@@ -109,7 +107,7 @@ func buildStatusResponse(
 
 	buildDomains(snap, domainRecords, resp)
 	buildHostnames(hostnames, resp)
-	resp.Ports = buildPorts(snap)
+	buildPorts(snap, resp)
 	buildCertificates(snap, resp)
 	buildCounts(resp)
 
@@ -197,36 +195,21 @@ func nameserverInfo(
 	return info
 }
 
-// buildPorts returns the port entries saved in snap. A port entry
-// saves apex domains with its hostnames; they are told apart as in
-// splitHostnames, by a domain entry in snap.Domains.
-func buildPorts(snap state.Snapshot) map[string]*statusPortInfo {
-	ports := make(map[string]*statusPortInfo, len(snap.Ports))
-
+func buildPorts(
+	snap state.Snapshot,
+	resp *statusResponse,
+) {
 	for key, ps := range snap.Ports {
-		domains := []string{}
-		hostnames := []string{}
-
-		for _, name := range ps.Hostnames {
-			if _, isDomain := snap.Domains[name]; isDomain {
-				domains = append(domains, name)
-			} else {
-				hostnames = append(hostnames, name)
-			}
-		}
-
-		sort.Strings(domains)
+		hostnames := make([]string, len(ps.Hostnames))
+		copy(hostnames, ps.Hostnames)
 		sort.Strings(hostnames)
 
-		ports[key] = &statusPortInfo{
+		resp.Ports[key] = &statusPortInfo{
 			Open:        ps.Open,
-			Domains:     domains,
 			Hostnames:   hostnames,
 			LastChecked: ps.LastChecked,
 		}
 	}
-
-	return ports
 }
 
 func buildCertificates(

internal/handlers/status_test.go

@@ -21,8 +21,7 @@ import (
 // The state the handler tests serve: www.example.com has one nameserver
 // that answered and one whose query failed, and its certificate check
 // failed. example.net is an apex domain, whose own records are saved
-// with the hostnames' records, as the watcher saves them. Both names
-// resolve to domainAddress, whose port 443 entry lists them.
+// with the hostnames' records, as the watcher saves them.
 const (
 	testHostname     = "www.example.com"
 	answeringNS      = "ns1.example.com."
@@ -33,7 +32,6 @@ const (
 	testDomain       = "example.net"
 	domainNS         = "a.iana-servers.net."
 	domainAddress    = "192.0.2.2"
-	sharedPort       = domainAddress + ":443"
 )
 
 // newHandlersWithFailures builds real Handlers whose state holds the
@@ -67,31 +65,12 @@ func newHandlersWithFailures(t *testing.T) *handlers.Handlers {
 		t.Fatalf("state.New: %v", err)
 	}
 
-	setTestState(st)
-
-	hnd, err := handlers.New(nil, handlers.Params{
-		Logger:  log,
-		Globals: glob,
-		State:   st,
-		Notify:  notifier,
-	})
-	if err != nil {
-		t.Fatalf("handlers.New: %v", err)
-	}
-
-	return hnd
-}
-
-// setTestState sets the entries described above in st.
-func setTestState(st *state.State) {
 	now := time.Now()
 
 	st.SetHostnameState(testHostname, &state.HostnameState{
 		RecordsByNameserver: map[string]*state.NameserverRecordState{
 			answeringNS: {
-				Records: map[string][]string{
-					"A": {"192.0.2.1", domainAddress},
-				},
+				Records:     map[string][]string{"A": {"192.0.2.1"}},
 				Status:      "ok",
 				LastChecked: now,
 			},
@@ -127,11 +106,17 @@ func setTestState(st *state.State) {
 		LastChecked: now,
 	})
 
-	st.SetPortState(sharedPort, &state.PortState{
-		Open:        true,
-		Hostnames:   []string{testDomain, testHostname},
-		LastChecked: now,
+	hnd, err := handlers.New(nil, handlers.Params{
+		Logger:  log,
+		Globals: glob,
+		State:   st,
+		Notify:  notifier,
 	})
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("handlers.New: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	return hnd
 }
 
 // get serves one GET request to handler and returns the response body.
@@ -232,36 +217,3 @@ func TestStatusGivesDomainRecordsUnderTheDomain(t *testing.T) {
 			testDomain, domainNS, records, domainAddress)
 	}
 }
-
-// TestStatusPortsTellDomainsFromHostnames checks that a port entry in
-// /api/v1/status lists an apex domain in domains and a hostname in
-// hostnames when both resolve to its address.
-func TestStatusPortsTellDomainsFromHostnames(t *testing.T) {
-	t.Parallel()
-
-	body := get(t, newHandlersWithFailures(t).HandleStatus())
-
-	var resp struct {
-		Ports map[string]struct {
-			Domains   []string `json:"domains"`
-			Hostnames []string `json:"hostnames"`
-		} `json:"ports"`
-	}
-
-	err := json.Unmarshal([]byte(body), &resp)
-	if err != nil {
-		t.Fatalf("decoding response: %v", err)
-	}
-
-	port := resp.Ports[sharedPort]
-
-	if !slices.Equal(port.Domains, []string{testDomain}) {
-		t.Errorf("port %s domains = %v, want [%s]",
-			sharedPort, port.Domains, testDomain)
-	}
-
-	if !slices.Equal(port.Hostnames, []string{testHostname}) {
-		t.Errorf("port %s hostnames = %v, want [%s]",
-			sharedPort, port.Hostnames, testHostname)
-	}
-}

internal/handlers/templates/dashboard.html

@@ -157,20 +157,19 @@
         >
           Ports
         </h2>
-        {{ if .Ports }}
+        {{ if .Snapshot.Ports }}
         <div class="overflow-x-auto">
           <table class="w-full text-left text-xs">
             <thead>
               <tr class="text-slate-500 uppercase tracking-wider">
                 <th class="py-2 px-3">Address</th>
                 <th class="py-2 px-3">State</th>
-                <th class="py-2 px-3">Domains</th>
                 <th class="py-2 px-3">Hostnames</th>
                 <th class="py-2 px-3">Checked</th>
               </tr>
             </thead>
             <tbody class="divide-y divide-slate-800">
-              {{ range $key, $ps := .Ports }}
+              {{ range $key, $ps := .Snapshot.Ports }}
               <tr class="hover:bg-surface-800/50">
                 <td class="py-2 px-3 text-slate-200 font-medium">
                   {{ $key }}
@@ -188,9 +187,6 @@
                   >
                   {{ end }}
                 </td>
-                <td class="py-2 px-3 text-slate-400 break-all">
-                  {{ joinStrings $ps.Domains ", " }}
-                </td>
                 <td class="py-2 px-3 text-slate-400 break-all">
                   {{ joinStrings $ps.Hostnames ", " }}
                 </td>

internal/resolver/iterative.go

@@ -8,7 +8,6 @@ import (
 	"net"
 	"slices"
 	"sort"
-	"strconv"
 	"strings"
 	"time"
 
@@ -725,15 +724,14 @@ func (r *Resolver) queryTypes(
 }
 
 type queryState struct {
-	gotNXDomain   bool
-	gotErrorReply bool
-	errorReply    string // its code, such as SERVFAIL, or number if unnamed
-	gotRefused    bool
-	gotTimeout    bool
-	gotReferral   bool
-	netErr        error
-	hasRecords    bool
-	answered      bool
+	gotNXDomain bool
+	errorReply  string // code of an error reply, such as SERVFAIL
+	gotRefused  bool
+	gotTimeout  bool
+	gotReferral bool
+	netErr      error
+	hasRecords  bool
+	answered    bool
 }
 
 // queryEachType asks the nameserver at nsIP about hostname once for each
@@ -835,14 +833,7 @@ func readReply(
 	}
 
 	if isErrorReply(msg) {
-		state.gotErrorReply = true
-
-		code, named := dns.RcodeToString[msg.Rcode]
-		if !named {
-			code = strconv.Itoa(msg.Rcode)
-		}
-
-		state.errorReply = code
+		state.errorReply = dns.RcodeToString[msg.Rcode]
 
 		return fmt.Errorf(
 			"server returned %s: %w", state.errorReply, ErrUnusableReply,
@@ -921,7 +912,7 @@ func classifyResponse(resp *NameserverResponse, state queryState) {
 	case state.gotTimeout && !state.answered:
 		resp.Status = StatusTimeout
 		resp.Error = "all queries timed out"
-	case state.gotErrorReply && !state.answered:
+	case state.errorReply != "" && !state.answered:
 		resp.Status = StatusError
 		resp.Error = "server returned " + state.errorReply
 	case state.gotRefused && !state.answered:

internal/resolver/iterative_internal_test.go

@@ -1,13 +1,11 @@
 package resolver
 
 import (
-	"strconv"
 	"syscall"
 	"testing"
 
 	"github.com/miekg/dns"
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
-	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
 )
 
 // TestClassifyResponse sets a nameserver's status from the results of
@@ -31,9 +29,7 @@ func TestClassifyResponse(t *testing.T) {
 		},
 		{
 			"some types answered with no records, another got SERVFAIL",
-			queryState{
-				answered: true, gotErrorReply: true, errorReply: "SERVFAIL",
-			},
+			queryState{answered: true, errorReply: "SERVFAIL"},
 			StatusNoData, "",
 		},
 		{
@@ -64,7 +60,7 @@ func TestClassifyResponse(t *testing.T) {
 		},
 		{
 			"every query got NOTIMP",
-			queryState{gotErrorReply: true, errorReply: "NOTIMP"},
+			queryState{errorReply: "NOTIMP"},
 			StatusError, "server returned NOTIMP",
 		},
 	}
@@ -84,27 +80,23 @@ func TestClassifyResponse(t *testing.T) {
 
 // TestReadReply checks which replies to a query about one record type,
 // built here, are an answer: one with the code NOERROR or NXDOMAIN. A
-// reply with any other code is not, and the type's query has failed; a
-// nameserver whose only reply it is has failed, and Error gives the
-// code, or its number when the code has no name.
+// reply with any other code is not, and the type's query has failed.
 func TestReadReply(t *testing.T) {
 	t.Parallel()
 
 	tests := []struct {
-		rcode      int
-		wantStatus string
-		wantError  string
+		rcode    int
+		answered bool
 	}{
-		{dns.RcodeSuccess, StatusNoData, ""},
-		{dns.RcodeNameError, StatusNXDomain, ""},
-		{dns.RcodeServerFailure, StatusError, "server returned SERVFAIL"},
-		{dns.RcodeNotImplemented, StatusError, "server returned NOTIMP"},
-		{dns.RcodeFormatError, StatusError, "server returned FORMERR"},
-		{12, StatusError, "server returned 12"}, // unassigned, no name
+		{dns.RcodeSuccess, true},
+		{dns.RcodeNameError, true},
+		{dns.RcodeServerFailure, false},
+		{dns.RcodeNotImplemented, false},
+		{dns.RcodeFormatError, false},
 	}
 
 	for _, tt := range tests {
-		t.Run(strconv.Itoa(tt.rcode), func(t *testing.T) {
+		t.Run(dns.RcodeToString[tt.rcode], func(t *testing.T) {
 			t.Parallel()
 
 			msg := new(dns.Msg)
@@ -112,20 +104,13 @@ func TestReadReply(t *testing.T) {
 			msg.Rcode = tt.rcode
 
 			resp := &NameserverResponse{Records: map[string][]string{}}
+			err := readReply(msg, resp, &queryState{})
 
-			var state queryState
-
-			err := readReply(msg, resp, &state)
-			classifyResponse(resp, state)
-
-			if tt.wantStatus == StatusError {
-				require.ErrorIs(t, err, ErrUnusableReply)
+			if tt.answered {
+				assert.NoError(t, err)
 			} else {
-				require.NoError(t, err)
+				assert.ErrorIs(t, err, ErrUnusableReply)
 			}
-
-			assert.Equal(t, tt.wantStatus, resp.Status)
-			assert.Equal(t, tt.wantError, resp.Error)
 		})
 	}
 }

internal/watcher/message_test.go

@@ -165,51 +165,3 @@ func TestStartupNotificationCountsConfiguredNames(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Errorf("sent %v, want one message with %q", notifications, counts)
 	}
 }
-
-// A Port Change notification lists the configured apex domain and the
-// hostname that resolve to the port's address on separate lines. The
-// port checks read the saved hostname state and look nothing up, so the
-// watcher has no resolver.
-func TestPortChangeListsDomainsApartFromHostnames(t *testing.T) {
-	t.Parallel()
-
-	cfg := defaultTestConfig(t)
-	cfg.Domains = []string{domain}
-	cfg.Hostnames = []string{host}
-
-	deps := newTestDeps(t, cfg)
-	w := watcher.NewForTest(
-		cfg, deps.state, nil,
-		deps.portChecker, deps.tlsChecker, deps.notifier,
-	)
-	w.SetFirstRun(false)
-
-	// Both names resolve to ip1, whose port 443 the previous check
-	// found open. It is closed now.
-	for _, name := range []string{domain, host} {
-		deps.state.SetHostnameState(name, saved(
-			map[string]*state.NameserverRecordState{
-				nsA: answered(map[string][]string{"A": {ip1}}),
-			},
-		))
-	}
-
-	key := ip1 + ":443"
-	deps.state.SetPortState(key, &state.PortState{
-		Open: true, Hostnames: []string{domain, host},
-	})
-	deps.portChecker.closed = true
-
-	w.CheckAllPorts(t.Context())
-
-	title := "Port Change: " + key
-	want := `Domains: example.net
-Hostnames: www.example.net
-Address: 192.0.2.1:443
-Port now closed`
-
-	got := deps.notifier.getNotifications()
-	if len(got) != 1 || got[0].Title != title || got[0].Message != want {
-		t.Errorf("sent %v, want one %q with message:\n%s", got, title, want)
-	}
-}

internal/watcher/watcher.go

@@ -581,50 +581,17 @@ func (w *Watcher) detectHostnameChanges(
 	w.detectCNAMEAddressChanges(ctx, hostname, prev, current)
 }
 
-// isDomain reports whether name is a configured apex domain, whose own
-// records are checked and saved as a hostname's are.
-func (w *Watcher) isDomain(name string) bool {
-	return slices.Contains(w.config.Domains, name)
-}
-
 // nameLine is the line a notification about name's records starts with:
-// "Domain: " and the name for a configured apex domain, and
-// "Hostname: " otherwise.
+// "Domain: " and the name for a configured apex domain, whose own
+// records are checked as a hostname's are, and "Hostname: " otherwise.
 func (w *Watcher) nameLine(name string) string {
-	if w.isDomain(name) {
+	if slices.Contains(w.config.Domains, name) {
 		return "Domain: " + name
 	}
 
 	return "Hostname: " + name
 }
 
-// portNameLines lists the names that resolve to a port's address, the
-// configured apex domains on one line and the hostnames on the next,
-// leaving out a line that would name nothing.
-func (w *Watcher) portNameLines(names []string) string {
-	var domains, hostnames []string
-
-	for _, name := range names {
-		if w.isDomain(name) {
-			domains = append(domains, name)
-		} else {
-			hostnames = append(hostnames, name)
-		}
-	}
-
-	var lines []string
-
-	if len(domains) > 0 {
-		lines = append(lines, "Domains: "+strings.Join(domains, ", "))
-	}
-
-	if len(hostnames) > 0 {
-		lines = append(lines, "Hostnames: "+strings.Join(hostnames, ", "))
-	}
-
-	return strings.Join(lines, "\n")
-}
-
 // 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
@@ -1039,8 +1006,8 @@ func (w *Watcher) checkSinglePort(
 		}
 
 		msg := fmt.Sprintf(
-			"%s\nAddress: %s\nPort now %s",
-			w.portNameLines(hostnames), key, stateStr,
+			"Hosts: %s\nAddress: %s\nPort now %s",
+			strings.Join(hostnames, ", "), key, stateStr,
 		)
 
 		w.notify.SendNotification(