Dynamic Domain Name Server Console for Disaster Recovery Server Management

• US 20120297197A1
• Filed: 05/16/2011
• Published: 11/22/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/16/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Yale, Norman
• Granted Patent: US 9,060,038 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/179
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4511 using domain name system [DNS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5076 Update or notification mechanisms, e.g. DynDNS
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/083 using passwords cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using a predetermined code H04L9/3226
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/126 the source of the received data
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/40 for recovering from a failure of a protocol instance or entity, e.g. service redundancy protocols, protocol state redundancy or protocol service redirection management of faults, events, alarms or notifications in data switching networks H04L41/06

Abstract

Methods, systems, and computer-readable media for updating a domain name server are provided. A console may receive a first request to access the console. The console may verify first permission to access the console. The console may receive a second request to access the domain name server. The console may verify second permission to access the domain name server. The console may receive an instruction to modify an entry in the domain name server. The instruction may specify that a previous Internet Protocol address in the entry is replaced with a new Internet Protocol address. The console may transmit the instruction from the console to the domain name server. The domain name server may be configured to replace the previous Internet Protocol address with a new Internet Protocol address in the entry in response to the instruction.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for updating a domain name server, the method comprising:

receiving, at a console, a first request to access the console, the console coupled to the domain name server;

upon receiving the first request to access the console, verifying first permission to access the console;

upon verifying the first permission to access the console, receiving, at the console, a second request to access the domain name server;

upon receiving the second request to access the domain name server, verifying second permission to access the domain name server;

upon verifying the second permission to access the domain name server, receiving, at the console, an instruction to modify an entry in the domain name server, the instruction specifying that a previous Internet Protocol address in the entry is replaced with a new Internet Protocol address; and

transmitting the instruction from the console to the domain name server, the domain name server configured to replace the previous Internet Protocol address with a new Internet Protocol address in the entry in response to the instruction.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein verifying first permission to access the console comprises:

receiving a username and a password associated with a user; and

upon receiving the username and the password, verifying that the user has the first permission to access the console based on the username and the password.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein verifying second permission to access the domain name server comprises:

generating a signature based on a private key;

transmitting the signature from the console to the domain name server, the domain name server configured to verify that the signature based on a public key; and

upon transmitting the signature from the console to the domain name server, receiving confirmation granting a special level of access to modify the entry.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein receiving, at the console, an instruction to modify an entry in the domain name server, the instruction specifying that a previous Internet Protocol address in the entry is replaced with a new Internet Protocol address comprises:

receiving, at the console, a first instruction to delete the previous Internet Protocol address associated with a domain name in the entry; and

upon receiving the first instruction to delete the previous Internet Protocol address associated with a domain name in the entry, receiving, at the console, a second instruction to add the new Internet Protocol address to the entry.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 4, wherein transmitting the instruction from the console to the domain name server, the domain name server configured to replace the previous Internet Protocol address with a new Internet Protocol address in the entry in response to the instruction comprises:

transmitting, from the console to the domain name server, the first instruction to delete the previous Internet Protocol address associated with a domain name in the entry; and

upon transmitting the first instruction to delete the previous Internet Protocol address associated with a domain name in the entry, transmitting, from the console to the domain name server, the second instruction to add the new Internet Protocol address to the entry.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

monitoring health-related parameters of a first server computer associated with the previous Internet Protocol address;

determining that the health-related parameters indicate a disaster causing the first server computer to fail; and

upon determining that the health-related parameters indicate the disaster causing the first server computer to fail, transmitting the instruction to modify the entry in the domain name server, the new Internet Protocol address associated with a second server computer.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the console comprises one of a UNIX server computer, a LINUX server computer, and a WINDOWS server computer.

8. A console for updating a domain name server coupled to the console, comprising:

a memory for storing a program containing code for updating the domain name server;

a processor functionally coupled to the memory, the processor being responsive to computer-executable instructions contained in the program and configured to at least

receive, at the console, a first request to access the console,

upon receiving the first request to access the console, verify first permission to access the console,

upon verifying the first permission to access the console, receive, at the console, a second request to access the domain name server,

upon receiving the second request to access the domain name server, verify second permission to access the domain name server,

upon verifying the second permission to access the domain name server, receive, at the console, an instruction to modify an entry in the domain name server, the instruction specifying that a previous Internet Protocol address in the entry is replaced with a new Internet Protocol address, and

transmit the instruction from the console to the domain name server, the domain name server configured to replace the previous Internet Protocol address with a new Internet Protocol address in the entry in response to the instruction.

9. The console of claim 8, wherein to verify the first permission to access the console, the processor is further configured to at least

receive a username and a password associated with a user, and

upon receiving the username and the password, verify that the user has the first permission to access the console based on the username and the password.

10. The console of claim 8, wherein to verify the second permission to access the domain name server, the processor is further configured to at least

generate a signature based on a private key,

transmit the signature from the console to the domain name server, the domain name server configured to verify that the signature based on a public key, and

upon transmitting the signature from the console to the domain name server, receive confirmation granting a special level of access to modify the entry.

11. The console of claim 8, wherein to receive at the console, an instruction to modify an entry in the domain name server, the instruction specifying that a previous Internet Protocol address in the entry is replaced with a new Internet Protocol address, the processor is further configured to at least

receive, at the console, a first instruction to delete the previous Internet Protocol address associated with a domain name in the entry, and

upon receiving the first instruction to delete the previous Internet Protocol address associated with a domain name in the entry, receive, at the console, a second instruction to add the new Internet Protocol address to the entry.

12. The console of claim 11, wherein to transmit the instruction from the console to the domain name server, the domain name server configured to replace the previous Internet Protocol address with a new Internet Protocol address in the entry in response to the instruction, the processor is further configured to at least

transmit, from the console to the domain name server, the first instruction to delete the previous Internet Protocol address associated with a domain name in the entry, and

upon transmitting the first instruction to delete the previous Internet Protocol address associated with a domain name in the entry, transmit, from the console to the domain name server, the second instruction to add the new Internet Protocol address to the entry.

13. The console of claim 8, wherein the processor is further configured to at least

monitor health-related parameters of a first server computer associated with the previous Internet Protocol address,

determine that the health-related parameters indicate a disaster causing the first server computer to fail, and

upon determining that the health-related parameters indicate the disaster causing the first server computer to fail, transmit the instruction to modify the entry in the domain name server, the new Internet Protocol address associated with a second server computer.

14. A computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon for execution by a processor to provide a method for updating a domain name server, the method comprising:

receiving, at a console, a first request to access the console, the console coupled to the domain name server;

upon receiving the first request to access the console, verifying first permission to access the console;

upon verifying the first permission to access the console, receiving, at the console, a second request to access the domain name server;

upon receiving the second request to access the domain name server, verifying second permission to access the domain name server;

upon verifying the second permission to access the domain name server, receiving, at the console, an instruction to modify an entry in the domain name server, the instruction specifying that a previous Internet Protocol address in the entry is replaced with a new Internet Protocol address; and

transmitting the instruction from the console to the domain name server, the domain name server configured to replace the previous Internet Protocol address with a new Internet Protocol address in the entry in response to the instruction.

15. The computer-readable medium of claim 14, wherein verifying first permission to access the console comprises:

receiving a username and a password associated with a user; and

upon receiving the username and the password, verifying that the user has the first permission to access the console based on the username and the password.

16. The computer-readable medium of claim 14, wherein verifying second permission to access the domain name server comprises:

generating a signature based on a private key;

transmitting the signature from the console to the domain name server, the domain name server configured to verify that the signature based on a public key; and

upon transmitting the signature from the console to the domain name server, receiving confirmation granting a special level of access to modify the entry.

17. The computer-readable medium of claim 14, wherein receiving, at the console, an instruction to modify an entry in the domain name server, the instruction specifying that a previous Internet Protocol address in the entry is replaced with a new Internet Protocol address comprises:

receiving, at the console, a first instruction to delete the previous Internet Protocol address associated with a domain name in the entry; and

upon receiving the first instruction to delete the previous Internet Protocol address associated with a domain name in the entry, receiving, at the console, a second instruction to add the new Internet Protocol address to the entry.

18. The computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein transmitting the instruction from the console to the domain name server, the domain name server configured to replace the previous Internet Protocol address with a new Internet Protocol address in the entry in response to the instruction comprises:

transmitting, from the console to the domain name server, the first instruction to delete the previous Internet Protocol address associated with a domain name in the entry; and

upon transmitting the first instruction to delete the previous Internet Protocol address associated with a domain name in the entry, transmitting, from the console to the domain name server, the second instruction to add the new Internet Protocol address to the entry.

19. The computer-readable medium of claim 14, further comprising:

monitoring health-related parameters of a first server computer associated with the previous Internet Protocol address;

determining that the health-related parameters indicate a disaster causing the first server computer to fail; and

upon determining that the health-related parameters indicate the disaster causing the first server computer to fail, transmitting the instruction to modify the entry in the domain name server, the new Internet Protocol address associated with a second server computer.

20. The computer-readable medium of claim 14, wherein the console comprises one of a UNIX server computer, a LINUX server computer, and a WINDOWS server computer.