Resolving hostnames on a private network with a public internet server

• US 8,140,669 B2
• Filed: 08/31/2009
• Issued: 03/20/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Christenson, David A., Gloe, Christopher T., Kasperski, John C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Barot, Bharat
• Application Number:
  US12/550,588
• Publication Number:
  US 20110055374A1
• Time in Patent Office: 932 Days
• Field of Search: 709202-203, 709223-224, 709245-246, 709/249
• US Class Current: 709/224
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/2514 between local and global IP addresses
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4511 using domain name system [DNS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5076 Update or notification mechanisms, e.g. DynDNS

Abstract

Systems, methods and articles of manufacture are disclosed for resolving hostnames on a private network with a public Internet server. One embodiment of the invention provides for a public Internet server configured to generate a private network ID when a new private network is identified, wherein the private network ID is a unique reference to all nodes within a private network and wherein the private network is comprised of one or more private DNS servers. The public internet server stores the private network ID and an IP address for at least one or more private DNS servers on the private network and sends, upon request, the private network ID to at least one of the private DNS servers.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method for resolving hostnames on a private network with a public Internet server, comprising configuring one or more processors to perform an operation, comprising:

generating, on a public Internet server, a private network ID when a new private network is identified, wherein the private network ID is a unique reference to all nodes within a private network and wherein the private network is comprised of one or more private DNS servers;

storing, in a private network DNS database on the public Internet server, the private network ID and an associated IP address for at least one or more private DNS servers on the private network; and

sending the private network ID to at least one of the private DNS servers.

2. The computer implemented method of claim 1, wherein the private DNS servers propagate the networked ID to all networked devices on the private network.

3. The computer implemented method of claim 1, further comprising updating the public Internet server when one of the IP addresses associated with one of the private DNS servers is modified.

4. The computer implemented method of claim 3, further comprising updating the public Internet server with a new IP address when a new private DNS server is connected to the private network, wherein the new IP address is associated with the new private DNS server.

5. The computer implemented method of claim 4, further comprising:

receiving a query and the private network ID from a networked device on the private network; and

responding with a list of the IP addresses associated with the private DNS servers on the private network associated with the private network ID received.

6. The computer implemented method of claim 1, wherein the public Internet server only sends the private network ID upon request, if the private network associated with the private network ID is behind a firewall.

7. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium containing a program which, when executed, performs an operation for resolving hostnames on a private network with a public Internet server, comprising:

generating, on a public Internet server, a private network ID when a new private network is identified, wherein the private network ID is a unique reference to all nodes within a private network and wherein the private network is comprised of one or more private DNS servers;

storing, in a private network DNS database on the public Internet server, the private network ID and an associated IP address for at least one or more private DNS servers on the private network; and

sending the private network ID to at least one of the private DNS servers.

8. The computer readable storage medium of claim 7, wherein the private DNS servers propagate the networked ID to all networked devices on the private network.

9. The computer readable storage medium of claim 8, further comprising updating the public Internet server when one of the IP addresses associated with one of the private DNS servers is modified.

10. The computer readable storage medium of claim 9, further comprising updating the public Internet server with a new IP address when a new private DNS server is connected to the private network, wherein the new IP address is associated with the new private DNS server.

11. The computer readable storage medium of claim 10, further comprising:

receiving a query and the private network ID from a networked device on the private network; and

responding with a list of the IP addresses associated with the private DNS servers on the private network associated with the private network ID received.

12. The computer readable storage medium of claim 7, wherein the public Internet server only sends the private network ID upon request, if the private network associated with the private network ID is behind a firewall.

13. A system, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory containing a program, which when executed by the processor is configured to perform an operation for resolving hostnames on a private network with a public Internet server, comprising;

generating, on a public Internet server, a private network ID when a new private network is identified, wherein the private network ID is a unique reference to all nodes within a private network and wherein the private network is comprised of one or more private DNS servers;

storing, in a private network DNS database on the public Internet server, the private network ID and an associated IP address for at least one or more private DNS servers on the private network; and

sending the private network ID to at least one of the private DNS servers.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the private DNS servers propagate the networked ID to all networked devices on the private network.

15. The system of claim 13, further comprising updating the public Internet server when one of the IP addresses associated with one of the private DNS servers is modified.

16. The system of claim 14, further comprising updating the public Internet server with a new IP address when a new private DNS server is connected to the private network, wherein the new IP address is associated with the new private DNS server.

17. The system of claim 15, further comprising:

receiving a query and the private network ID from a networked device on the private network; and

responding with a list of the IP addresses associated with the private DNS servers on the private network associated with the private network ID received.

18. The system of claim 13, wherein the public Internet server only sends the private network ID upon request, if the private network associated with the private network ID is behind a firewall.