Nameserver administration system and method

• US 5,664,185 A
• Filed: 05/22/1995
• Issued: 09/02/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 05/22/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: Sterling Commerce (America) Incorporated (International Business Machines Corporation)
• Inventors: Ferrel, Roger L., Landfield, Kent B.
• Primary Examiner(s): AMSBURY, WAYNE P
• Application Number:
  US08/446,330
• Time in Patent Office: 834 Days
• Field of Search: 395/615
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/22 comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4511 using domain name system [DNS]

Abstract

A data communications management and nameserver administration system is provided that allows for the administration of a nameserver database (44) through the invocation of a nameserver administration system (46). In addition, a nameserver test system (48) is provided that provides for nameserver tool execution systems (130) and a tool configuration utility (128). A graphical nameserver query system (50) is provided that allows for the submission of nameserver queries to other nameserver system.

Claims

1. A data communications management system operating on a host computer system connected to a private network and operable to be connected to a public network, the system comprising:

a nameserver administration system providing a graphical user interface and operable to manage a local nameserver database comprising nameserver information which is accessible through queries issued from sites connected to the host computer system through the public network, the nameserver database further comprising local database information and may comprise a local cache of resolved nameserver operations, the graphical user interface associated with the nameserver administration system including a reload command which, when invoked, reinitializes the nameserver database and clears the local cache of resolved nameserver operations;

a nameserver test system providing a graphical user interface coupled to the nameserver database, the test system operable to execute tools invoked through the test system graphical user interface testing the configuration and operation of the nameserver database; and

a nameserver query system providing a nameserver query graphical interface, the nameserver query system operable to issue queries through the public network to other nameserver host systems and to receive and display results of the queries through the nameserver query graphical user interface.

2. A data communications management system operating on a host computer system connected to a private network and operable to be connected to a public network, the system comprising:

a nameserver administration system providing a graphical user interface and operable to manage a local nameserver database comprising nameserver information which is accessible through queries issued from sites connected to the host computer system through the public network, the nameserver database further comprising local database information and may comprise a local cache of resolved nameserver operations, the graphical user interface associated with the nameserver administration system including a reload command which, when invoked, reinitializes the nameserver database and clears the local cache of resolved nameserver operations, the graphical user interface associated with the nameserver administration system comprising a dump command operable to display the contents of the nameserver database including the contents of the local cache of resolved nameserver operations;

a nameserver test system providing a graphical user interface coupled to the nameserver database, the test system operable to execute tools invoked through the test system graphical user interface testing the configuration and operation of the nameserver database; and

a nameserver query system providing a nameserver query graphical interface, the nameserver query system operable to issue queries through the public network to other nameserver host systems and to receive and display results of the queries through the nameserver query graphical user interface.

3. A method of administering the nameserver database comprising the steps of:

providing a graphical user interface providing command buttons to a user of the graphical user interface;

displaying the information associated with the contents of the nameserver database including a local cache of resolved nameserver operations when a dump command is invoked through the graphical user interface;

reinitializing the nameserver database and clearing the local cache of resolved nameserver operations upon the invocation of a reload command through the graphical user interface;

displaying selective records responsive to type information selected using the graphical user interface in response to a command to view the selected records; and

searching the database for records containing particular character strings specified by a user through the graphical user interface.