Multiple-master DNS system
In one particular example, a data communications system addresses changes in server load and/or connection latency in connection with data communication services provided through DNS master and slave servers. The system provides dynamic information routing, via a set of DNS master servers being in a multi-master configuration and including a first master DNS server and a second master DNS server, and consistency of DNS records is established between the master servers. Subsequently, the first DNS master server enters into an isolation mode in which updates are not communicated via the network. A set of isolation rules, which indicate how DNS records are to be updated in a communications network, are accessed and used in response to the network connections becoming reliable and the first master server updates the DNS records according to the rules, thereby establishing consistency between the first and the second DNS master servers.
1. An apparatus comprising:
a plurality of domain name system (DNS) slave servers to be used in communications services over the Internet by a data communications system in which changes occur in server load and/or connection latency, the data communications system to use a set of isolation rules which indicate how DNS records are to be updated in a communications network; and
a set of DNS master servers including a first DNS master server and a second DNS master server, the set of DNS master servers being in a multi-master configuration to provide dynamic information routing for the data communications system in view of the changes occur in server load and/or connection latency, wherein the first DNS master server is to participate in establishing consistency of DNS records between the first and the second DNS master servers, wherein in response to the first DNS master server entering into a mode of network connectivity isolation in which updates involving the first DNS master server cannot be communicated due to an indication of unreliable network connections, and wherein in response to or after an indication of reliable network connections, the DNS records are to be updated according to the set of isolation rules for establishing consistency between the first and the second DNS master servers.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first DNS master server is to enter different isolation modes for different respective conditions associated with the communications network, and wherein the changes in server load and/or connection latency are attributable to changes in network conditions and to geographic location of communication nodes, each of which includes circuitry to communicate over the communications network.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first DNS master server is to establish consistency of the DNS records between the first and second DNS master servers by maintaining consistency of the DNS records with at least one of the plurality of DNS slave servers.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first DNS master server is to detect a network-isolation condition associated with at least one of the plurality of DNS slave servers.
5. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the first DNS master server is to enter an isolation mode in response to detecting the network isolation condition.
6. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the first and second DNS master servers are to establish consistency of the DNS records after the first DNS master server is to detect the network isolation condition.
7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first DNS master server is further to receive and queue, DNS update requests received from one or more of the plurality of DNS slave servers for the first DNS master server in response to detection that the first DNS master server is in isolation mode.
8. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the first DNS master server is further to process the queued DNS update requests according to the set of isolation rules and in response to the first DNS master server leaving the isolation mode.
9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first DNS master server is to send the updated DNS records to the second DNS master server in response to a request from the second DNS master server.
10. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the indication of unreliable network connections corresponds to a detection that a network connection involving the first DNS master server is lost.
11. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the first DNS master server is to detect that the network connection involving the first DNS master server is lost and in response, enter into the mode of network connectivity isolation, and then is to queue information and then provide the queued information after occurrence of the indication of reliable network connections and the network connections being reestablished.
12. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the DNS records are to be updated in the communications network to reflect the changes in connectivity latency.
13. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the communications services are provided by the data communications system to communicate and synchronize audio over the Internet for users or clients of the communications services who are located in separate geographic locations.
14. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the DNS records are to be updated in the communications network to account for connectivity latency in the communications services.
15. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the communications services include VoIP (Voice over IP) services which may be adversely impacted by connectivity latency due to network conditions, geographic locations of the servers and of regions to which the communications services are directed.
16. A method for use in a data communications system in which changes occur in server load and/or connection latency, the data communications system including or using a plurality of domain name system (DNS) slave servers in providing communications services over the Internet, the method comprising:
providing dynamic information routing, via a set of DNS master servers being in a multi-master configuration and including a first DNS master server and a second DNS master server;
establishing consistency of DNS records between the first and the second DNS master servers and subsequently the first DNS master server entering into a mode of network connectivity isolation in which updates involving the first DNS master server are not to be communicated;
accessing, by the data communications system and in response to a change in an indication of whether network connections are reliable, a set of isolation rules which indicate how DNS records are to be updated in a communications network; and
in response to the network connections becoming reliable and the first DNS master server exiting the mode of network connectivity isolation, using the first DNS master server to participate in updating the DNS records according to the accessed set of isolation rules and thereby establishing consistency between the first and the second DNS master servers.
17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the first DNS master server is to enter different isolation modes for different respective conditions associated with the communications network, and wherein the changes in server load and/or connection latency are attributable to changes in network conditions and to geographic location of communication nodes, each of which includes circuitry to communicate over the communications network.
18. The method of claim 16 , wherein the first DNS master server establishes consistency of the DNS records between the first and second DNS master servers and maintains consistency of the DNS records with at least one of the plurality of DNS slave servers.
19. The method of claim 16 , wherein the first DNS master server detects a network-isolation condition associated with at least one of the DNS slave servers.
20. The method of claim 16 , wherein the first DNS master server processes queued DNS update requests according to the set of isolation rules and in response to the first DNS master server leaving the isolation mode.
21. The method of claim 16 , wherein the data communications system provides the communications services to communicate and synchronize audio over the Internet for users or clients of the communications services who are located in separate geographic locations, and the DNS records are updated to account for connectivity latency in the communications services.
22. A non-transitory storage medium including instructions which when executed by a computer-processor circuit, including one or more computer processors, causes steps to be carried out in a data communications system in which changes occur in server load and/or connection latency and which uses a plurality of domain name system (DNS) slave servers in providing communications services over the Internet, the steps comprising:
providing dynamic information routing, via a set of DNS master servers being in a multi-master configuration and including a first DNS master server and a second DNS master server;
establishing consistency of DNS records between the first and the second DNS master servers and subsequently the first DNS master server entering into a mode of network connectivity isolation in which updates involving the first DNS master server are not to be communicated;
accessing, by the data communications system and in response to a change in an indication of whether network connections are reliable, a set of isolation rules which indicate how DNS records are to be updated in a communications network; and
in response to the network connections becoming reliable and the first DNS master server exiting the mode of network connectivity isolation, using the first DNS master server to participate in updating the DNS records according to the accessed set of isolation rules and thereby establishing consistency between the first and the second DNS master servers.