Method and apparatus for client-sensitive name resolution using DNS

• US 6,014,660 A
• Filed: 12/09/1996
• Issued: 01/11/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 12/09/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc. (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Sun Microsystems Incorporated (Oracle Corporation)
• Inventors: Lim, Swee B., Wong, Thomas K., Radia, Sanjay R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Black, Thomas G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Jung, David Yiuk
• Application Number:
  US08/763,234
• Time in Patent Office: 1,128 Days
• Field of Search: 707/1-10, 707/100, 707/200-206, 395/200.3-200.74, 395/200.78-200.8
• US Class Current: 709/203
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4511 using domain name system [DNS]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99953 Recoverability

Abstract

A method and apparatus for performing client-sensitive DNS translations includes the steps of receiving a translation request by a DNS server. The DNS server examines the translation request to determine if a record exists within the DNS server that associates the symbolic name included in the translation request with an IP record. If such a record exists, the IP address is returned as the translation. If not, the DNS server determines whether reflective client-sensitive translation is required. In the affirmative case, the request is reflected to back to the client where client-sensitive translation is performed and returned to the DNS server. If client-sensitive translation is not required, the DNS server determines whether non-reflective client-sensitive translation is required. If so, the requested translation is forwarded to a special DNS server, along with information that identifies the client system requesting translation. The special DNS server then performs the requested translation and returns the translation to the DNS server. When client-sensitive translation is not required, the DNS server performs iterative or recursive DNS translation.

Claims

1. A method for providing client-sensitive translation of symbolic names to addresses, the method comprising the following steps performed by a DNS server system, of:

receiving a request for translation from a client computer system, the request for translation including a symbolic name to be translated;

forwarding the translation request to the client computer system if reflective client-sensitive translation is required;

receiving a translation from the client computer system, the translation including an address corresponding to the symbolic name included in the translation request; and

returning the translation to the client computer system.

2. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the translation request sent by the DNS server system to the client system is directed to a non-standard port address, the non-standard port address differing from the port address normally used for DNS translation requests.

3. A method as recited in claim 1 further comprising the steps, performed by the client system of:

receiving the request for translation from the DNS server system;

searching a database of records, each record including a symbolic name;

selecting a record having a symbolic name that matches the symbolic name included in the translation request, the record including an address associated with the symbolic name; and

returning the address associated with the symbolic name to the DNS server system.

4. A method as recited in claim 1 further comprising the steps, performed by the client system of:

receiving the request for translation from the DNS server system;

searching a database of records, each record including a symbolic name;

selecting a record having a symbolic name that matches the symbolic name included in the translation request, the record including a preferred address and a symbolic name associated with a group of available addresses;

translating the symbolic name associated with the group of available address to generate a list of available addresses;

returning the preferred address to the DNS server system if the preferred address is included in the list of available addresses; and

returning an addresses in the list of available addresses to the DNS server system if the preferred address is not included in the list of available addresses.

5. A method as recited in claim 1 further comprising the steps, performed by the DNS server, of:

forwarding the translation request to a special DNS server system if non-reflective client-sensitive translation is required;

receiving a translation from the special DNS server system, the translation including an address corresponding to the symbolic name included in the translation request; and

returning the translation to the client computer system.

6. A method as recited in claim 5 further comprising the steps, performed by the special DNS server system of:

receiving the request for translation from the DNS server system;

searching a database of records, each record including a symbolic name;

selecting a record having a symbolic name that matches the symbolic name included in the translation request, the record including an address associated with the symbolic name; and

returning the address associated with the symbolic name to the DNS server system.

7. A method as recited in claim 5 further comprising the steps, performed by the special DNS server system of:

receiving the request for translation from the DNS server system;

searching a database of records, each record including a symbolic name;

selecting a record having a symbolic name that matches the symbolic name included in the translation request, the record including a preferred address and a symbolic name associated with a group of available addresses;

translating the symbolic name associated with the group of available address to generate a list of available addresses;

returning the preferred address to the DNS server system if the preferred address is included in the list of available addresses; and

returning an addresses in the list of available addresses to the DNS server system if the preferred address is not included in the list of available addresses.

8. A method as recited in claim 5 wherein the step of forwarding the forwarding the translation request to a special DNS server system is performed by encoding the translation request in an extended translation request, the extended translation request including the identity of the client system.

9. A method as recited in claim 1 further comprising the steps, performed by the DNS server, of:

forwarding the translation request to a second DNS server system if neither reflective client-sensitive translation or non-reflective client-sensitive translation are required;

receiving a translation from the second DNS server system, the translation including an address corresponding to the symbolic name included in the translation request; and

returning the translation to the client computer system.

10. A method as recited in claim 1 further comprising the step of returning an address if the DNS server includes a record binding the address to the symbolic name included in the translation request.

11. A method for providing client-sensitive translation of symbolic names to addresses, the method comprising the following steps performed by a DNS server system, of:

receiving a request for translation from a client computer system, the request for translation including a symbolic name to be translated;

forwarding the translation request to a special DNS server system if non-reflective client-sensitive translation is required;

receiving a translation from the special DNS server system, the translation including an address corresponding to the symbolic name included in the translation request; and

returning the translation to the client computer system.

12. A method as recited in claim 11 wherein the step of forwarding the forwarding the translation request to a special DNS server system is performed by encoding the translation request in an extended translation request, the extended translation request including the identity of the client system.

13. A method as recited in claim 11 further comprising the steps, performed by the special DNS server system of:

receiving the request for translation from the DNS server system;

searching a database of records, each record including a symbolic name;

selecting a record having a symbolic name that matches the symbolic name included in the translation request, the record including an address associated with the symbolic name; and

returning the address associated with the symbolic name to the DNS server system.

14. A method as recited in claim 11 further comprising the steps, performed by the special DNS server system of:

receiving the request for translation from the DNS server system;

searching a database of records, each record including a symbolic name;

selecting a record having a symbolic name that matches the symbolic name included in the translation request, the record including a preferred address and a symbolic name associated with a group of available addresses;

translating the symbolic name associated with the group of available address to generate a list of available addresses;

returning the preferred address to the DNS server system if the preferred address is included in the list of available addresses; and

returning an addresses in the list of available addresses to the DNS server system if the preferred address is not included in the list of available addresses.

15. A method as recited in claim 11 further comprising the steps, performed by the DNS server, of:

forwarding the translation request to the client computer system if reflective client-sensitive translation is required;

receiving a translation from the client computer system, the translation including an address corresponding to the symbolic name included in the translation request; and

returning the translation to the client computer system.

16. A method as recited in claim 15 further comprising the steps, performed by the client system of:

receiving the request for translation from the DNS server system;

searching a database of records, each record including a symbolic name;

selecting a record having a symbolic name that matches the symbolic name included in the translation request, the record including an address associated with the symbolic name; and

returning the address associated with the symbolic name to the DNS server system.

17. A method as recited in claim 15 further comprising the steps, performed by the client system of:

receiving the request for translation from the DNS server system;

searching a database of records, each record including a symbolic name;

selecting a record having a symbolic name that matches the symbolic name included in the translation request, the record including a preferred address and a symbolic name associated with a group of available addresses;

translating the symbolic name associated with the group of available address to generate a list of available addresses;

returning the preferred address to the DNS server system if the preferred address is included in the list of available addresses; and

returning an addresses in the list of available addresses to the DNS server system if the preferred address is not included in the list of available addresses.

18. A method as recited in claim 15 wherein the translation request sent by the DNS server system to the client system is directed to a non-standard port address, the non-standard port address differing from the port address normally used for DNS translation requests.

19. A method as recited in claim 11 further comprising the steps, performed by the DNS server, of:

forwarding the translation request to a second DNS server system if neither reflective client-sensitive translation or non-reflective client-sensitive translation are required;

receiving a translation from the second DNS server system, the translation including an address corresponding to the symbolic name included in the translation request; and

returning the translation to the client computer system.

20. A method as recited in claim 11 further comprising the step of returning an address if the DNS server includes a record binding the address to the symbolic name included in the translation request.

21. An apparatus for providing client-sensitive translation of symbolic names to addresses, the apparatus comprising:

a first portion configured to allow a computer system to receive a request for translation from a client computer system, the request for translation including a symbolic name to be translated;

a second portion configured to cause the computer system to forward the translation request to the client computer system if reflective client-sensitive translation is required;

a third portion configured to cause the computer system to receive a translation from the client computer system, the translation including an address corresponding to the symbolic name included in the translation request; and

a fourth portion configured to cause the computer system to return the translation to the client computer system.

22. An apparatus as recited in claim 21 further comprising:

a fifth portion configured to cause the computer system to forward the translation request to a special DNS server system if non-reflective client-sensitive translation is required;

a sixth portion configured to cause the computer system to receive a translation from the special DNS server system, the translation including an address corresponding to the symbolic name included in the translation request; and

an seventh portion configured to cause the computer system to return the translation to the client computer system.

23. An apparatus as recited in claim 21 further comprising:

a fifth portion configured to cause the computer system to return an address if the DNS server includes a record binding the address to the symbolic name included in the translation request.

24. An apparatus for providing client-sensitive translation of symbolic names to addresses, the apparatus comprising:

a first portion configured to allow a computer system to receive a request for translation from a client computer system, the request for translation including a symbolic name to be translated;

a second portion configured to cause the computer system to forward the translation request to a special DNS server system if non-reflective client-sensitive translation is required;

a third portion configured to cause the computer system to receive a translation from the special DNS server system, the translation including an address corresponding to the symbolic name included in the translation request; and

a fourth portion configured to cause the computer system to return the translation to the client computer system.

25. An apparatus as recited in claim 24 further comprising:

a fifth portion configured to cause the computer system to forward the translation request to the client computer system if reflective client-sensitive translation is required;

a sixth portion configured to cause the computer system to receive a translation from the client computer system, the translation including an address corresponding to the symbolic name included in the translation request; and

an seventh portion configured to cause the computer system to return the translation to the client computer system.

26. An apparatus as recited in claim 24 further comprising a fifth portion configured to cause the computer system to return an address if the DNS server includes a record binding the address to the symbolic name included in the translation request.

27. A computer program product comprising:

a computer usable medium having computer readable code embodied therein for providing client-sensitive translation of symbolic names to addresses, the computer program product comprising;

first computer readable program code devices configured to allow a computer system to receive a request for translation from a client computer system, the request for translation including a symbolic name to be translated;

second computer readable program code devices configured to cause the computer system to forward the translation request to the client computer system if reflective client-sensitive translation is required;

third computer readable program code devices configured to cause the computer system to receive a translation from the client computer system, the translation including an address corresponding to the symbolic name included in the translation request; and

fourth computer readable program code devices configured to cause the computer system to return the translation to the client computer system.

28. A computer program product as recited in claim 27 further comprising fifth computer readable program code devices configured to cause the computer system to return an address if the DNS server includes a record binding the address to the symbolic name included in the translation request.

32. A computer program product as recited in claim 27 further comprising:

fifth computer readable program code devices configured to cause the computer system to forward the translation request to a special DNS server system if non-reflective client-sensitive translation is required;

sixth computer readable program code devices configured to cause the computer system to receive a translation from the special DNS server system, the translation including an address corresponding to the symbolic name included in the translation request; and

seventh computer readable program code devices configured to cause the computer system to return the translation to the client computer system.

29. A computer program product comprising:

a computer usable medium having computer readable code embodied therein for providing client-sensitive translation of symbolic names to addresses, the computer program product comprising;

first computer readable program code devices configured to allow a computer system to receive a request for translation from a client computer system, the request for translation including a symbolic name to be translated;

second computer readable program code devices configured to cause the computer system to forward the translation request to a special DNS server system if non-reflective client-sensitive translation is required;

third computer readable program code devices configured to cause the computer system to receive a translation from the special DNS server system, the translation including an address corresponding to the symbolic name included in the translation request; and

fourth computer readable program code devices configured to cause the computer system to return the translation to the client computer system.

30. A computer program product as recited in claim 29 further comprising:

fifth computer readable program code devices configured to cause the computer system to forward the translation request to the client computer system if reflective client-sensitive translation is required;

sixth computer readable program code devices configured to cause the computer system to receive a translation from the client computer system, the translation including an address corresponding to the symbolic name included in the translation request; and

seventh computer readable program code devices configured to cause the computer system to return the translation to the client computer system.

31. A computer program product as recited in claim 29 further comprising fifth computer readable program code devices configured to cause the computer system to return an address if the DNS server includes a record binding the address to the symbolic name included in the translation request.