# Discovery of Model Context Protocol Servers via DNS TXT Records

[1 · Discover](/category/discover/)
Candidate · auto-drafted, unreviewed · confidence 80%

| Discovery of Model Context Protocol Servers via DNS TXT Records |
| --- |
| Category | [Discover](/category/discover/) |
| Governed by | Individual Internet-Draft by a single author; not adopted by an IETF working group per the page text (Network Working Group, Intended Status: Informational). |
| Status | Internet-Draft, Intended Status: Informational; expires 12 April 2027 |
| Phase | draft |
| Implementation | unknown |
| Adoption | unmeasured |
| Version | draft-morrison-mcp-dns-discovery-08 (2026-10-09) |
| Specification | [https://datatracker.ietf.org/doc/html/draft-morrison-mcp-dns-discovery-08](https://datatracker.ietf.org/doc/html/draft-morrison-mcp-dns-discovery-08) |
| Found at | _mcp.<domain> |
| Last checked | 2026-10-18 |
| Freshness | current · checked 2026-10-18 |
| Solves | Let agents discover my API or service, Expose tools to agents, Prove an agent's identity |

Discovery of Model Context Protocol Servers via DNS TXT Records is an agentic-web standard (DNS record) at step 1, Discover, governed by Individual Internet-Draft by a single author; its own status is "Internet-Draft, Intended Status: Informational; expires 12 April 2027" (draft). It answers: How can a client discover an MCP server's endpoint, the operating organisation's identity, and a signed ~handle identity envelope using DNS TXT records under a domain? Adoption is unmeasured, last verified 2026-10-18.

[Discover](/category/discover/) This Internet-Draft defines three DNS TXT records: _mcp.<domain> for MCP server endpoint, transport, key and capability profile; _org-alter.<domain> for operator organisational identity; and _alter.<domain> for an Ed25519-signed ~handle envelope. DNSSEC validation is required for the envelope record, and a DANE TLSA pin is required on the MCP endpoint in some cases. It follows the DKIM, SPF, DMARC and MTA-STS precedent and discusses related DNS-based discovery drafts (AGENT-AID, DNS-AID, MDNS-AGENT).

## Discovery and probe

DNS TXT records at _mcp.<domain>, _org-alter.<domain> and _alter.<domain>; DNSSEC required for the envelope record, DANE TLSA pin on the MCP endpoint where required · _mcp.<domain>

```
DNS TXT query _mcp.
parse:     Parse the semicolon-delimited key=value TXT record (endpoint URL, protocol family, transport, key, capability profile); optionally query _org-alter. and _alter.
on absent: Treat the domain as not advertising MCP discovery via DNS (NXDOMAIN or no TXT record)
```

Not probed live: no-fixed-path. candidate record; probe rule pending

## History
- 2026-10-16 — auto-drafted candidate from exa (https://datatracker.ietf.org/doc/html/draft-morrison-mcp-dns-discovery-08)

## Instances

No instances recorded yet.

## See also

## References

- The Internet-Draft defines three DNS TXT records (_mcp, _org-alter, _alter) for MCP server discovery, organisational identity, and a signed Ed25519 handle envelope, with Informational intended status and expiry on 12 April 2027. — [https://datatracker.ietf.org/doc/html/draft-morrison-mcp-dns-discovery-08](https://datatracker.ietf.org/doc/html/draft-morrison-mcp-dns-discovery-08) (2026-10-09) REPORTED

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