Details
We use ZoneCheck to test the Top-level domains' nameservers.
The policy of ZoneCheck is configurable. AFNIC, for instance, uses one policy
to allow delegations in .fr. This monitoring tool, which
is build on top of ZoneCheck, uses another one. If you install
ZoneCheck locally, you can design yet another one.
Policies lists the tests to make and wether a failure is regarded
as "fatal" or not (some failures are simply warnings). Any input from
the community regarding the policy used here is welcome. But keep in
mind that there is no consensus in the community regarding all the
tests, except the most basic ones.