TCP/IP host name resolution for machines on several domains
First Claim
1. In a TCP/IP communications network containing more than one domain and having at least one local TCP/IP host, said local TCP/IP host being connected to multiple of said more than one domains and configured to use a primary domain name server and zero or more alternate domain name servers for each of the multiple connected domains, said local TCP/IP host having a name resolver program, a method for host address resolution comprisingsending a name resolution query for a specified name originating with an application program concurrently to each of the primary domain name servers by the name resolver program;
- if a positive reply to the name resolution query is received from any of the primary domain name servers, returning the resolved host address information in the reply from the resolver program to the application program.
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Accused Products
Abstract
This invention deals with an enhancement to the name resolution capabilities of existing TCP/IP networks. More specifically, it allows a host which is connected to a private network to be located through a connection to a different private network or a public network, such as the internet. This is achieved by allowing the host to be configured with more than one primary domain name server. This can be done using existing TCP/IP communications protocol and does not require a change to any code outside of the host. The host can also define one or more alternate domain name servers for each of the primary domain name servers. The definition of multiple primary and secondary domain name servers for each host allows the name of the host to be located, without a degradation in performance, if it is located or defined in any of the primary domain name servers.
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Citations
10 Claims
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1. In a TCP/IP communications network containing more than one domain and having at least one local TCP/IP host, said local TCP/IP host being connected to multiple of said more than one domains and configured to use a primary domain name server and zero or more alternate domain name servers for each of the multiple connected domains, said local TCP/IP host having a name resolver program, a method for host address resolution comprising
sending a name resolution query for a specified name originating with an application program concurrently to each of the primary domain name servers by the name resolver program; if a positive reply to the name resolution query is received from any of the primary domain name servers, returning the resolved host address information in the reply from the resolver program to the application program. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A TCP/IP communications network comprising:
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two or more hosts; two or more domains; each of said domains containing a primary domain name server; means for initiating a name resolution query from one of said hosts for a specified name, said name resolution query being sent concurrently to said primary domain name server in each of said domains. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7)
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8. In a TCP/IP communications network containing a plurality of domains and one or more local hosts which may be connected to multiple domains, an address resolution system for one or more of the domains, said system including:
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a primary domain name server for each said domain including a database having entries which correlate host names to addresses; means for concurrently sending a name resolution query for a specified name to each of said primary domain name servers; and means for returning a host address if the specified name in the name resolution query is contained within the database at any of said primary domain name servers. - View Dependent Claims (9)
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10. A host computer connected to a plurality of domains using a TCP/IP protocol, each domain containing a primary domain name server and zero or more secondary domain name servers, said host computer comprising:
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means for transmitting a name resolution query from said host computer concurrently to each of said primary domain name servers; timer means for detecting if any of said primary domain name servers fail to reply to said name resolution query within a specified time interval; means for resending said name resolution query to each said primary domain name server a predetermined number of times if said each primary domain server fails to reply within said specified time interval; and means for resending said name resolution query to each said secondary domain name server if said primary domain name server for said domain fails to reply after said predetermined number of times.
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Specification