Method and apparatus for looking up configuration information for a network node

Abstract

One embodiment of the present invention provides a system for looking up location-specific configuration information for a network node or a subnet. During system operation, a network node creates a query message containing a key that comprises an Internet Protocol (IP) prefix and a string, wherein the IP prefix identifies the network node or the subnet, and the string specifies the type of configuration information. The network node then sends the query message to a name server, which is part of a distributed system that provides a global naming service, wherein the name server additionally stores configuration information. Finally, the network node receives a response message from the name server, wherein the response message contains the requested configuration information.

1 . A method for configuring a service in a network node, the method comprising:
 creating a Domain Name System (DNS) query packet at the network node, wherein the DNS query packet specifies a service that is to be configured at the network node;   sending the DNS query packet to a DNS server that is configured to provide a name resolution service, wherein the DNS server is further configured to provide configuration information for the service;   receiving a DNS response packet from the DNS server, wherein the DNS response packet includes configuration information for the service; and   configuring the service at the network node using the configuration information from the DNS response packet.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the configuration information is specific to a corresponding level of granularity. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the level of granularity is one of: a host, a network node, a subnet, a location, or a company. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein creating the DNS query packet comprises:
 prepending a configuration-identifier associated with the service to an address or a subnet of the network node to obtain a query string;   appending “.in-addr.arpa.” to the query string to create a key; and   writing the key into a DNS query field in the DNS query packet.   
     
     
         5 . A method for providing configuration for configuring a service in a network node, the method comprising:
 at a DNS server,
 receiving a DNS query packet from a network node, wherein the DNS query packet specifies a service that is to be configured at the network node; 
 retrieving configuration information for the service from a database in the DNS server; 
 creating a DNS response packet that includes the configuration information; and 
 sending the DNS response packet from the DNS server to the network node, wherein the configuration information in the DNS response packet facilitates the network node configuring the service at the network node. 
   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the configuration information that is retrieved from the database in the DNS server is specific a corresponding level of granularity. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the level of granularity is one of: a host, a network node, a subnet, a location, or a company. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 5 , retrieving the configuration information from the database in the DNS server comprises accessing one or more resource-records. 
     
     
         9 . A computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform a method for configuring a service in a network node, the method comprising:
 creating a DNS query packet at the network node, wherein the DNS query packet specifies a service that is to be configured at the network node;   sending the DNS query packet to a DNS server that is configured to provide a name resolution service, wherein the DNS server is further configured to provide configuration information for the service;   receiving a DNS response packet from the DNS server, wherein the DNS response packet includes configuration information for the service; and   configuring the service at the network node using the configuration information from the DNS response packet.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the configuration information is specific to a corresponding level of granularity. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the level of granularity is one of:
 a host, a network node, a subnet, a location, or a company.   
     
     
         12 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 9 , wherein creating the DNS query packet comprises:
 prepending a configuration-identifier associated with the service to an address or a subnet of the network node to obtain a query string;   appending “.in-addr.arpa.” to the query string to create a key; and   writing the key into a DNS query field in the DNS query packet.   
     
     
         13 . A computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform a method for providing configuration for configuring a service in a network node, the method comprising:
 at a DNS server,
 receiving a DNS query packet from a network node, wherein the DNS query packet specifies a service that is to be configured at the network node; 
 retrieving configuration information for the service from a database in the DNS server; 
 creating a DNS response packet that includes the configuration information; and 
 sending the DNS response packet from the DNS server to the network node, wherein the configuration information in the DNS response packet facilitates the network node configuring the service at the network node. 
   
     
     
         14 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 13 , wherein the configuration information that is retrieved from the database in the DNS server is specific a corresponding level of granularity. 
     
     
         15 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 14 , wherein the level of granularity is one of: a host, a network node, a subnet, a location, or a company. 
     
     
         16 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 13 , retrieving the configuration information from the database in the DNS server comprises accessing one or more resource-records. 
     
     
         17 . An apparatus used for configuring a service in a network node, the apparatus comprising:
 in the network node,
 a creating mechanism in the network node configured to create a DNS query packet, wherein the DNS query packet specifies a service that is to be configured at the network node; 
 a sending mechanism configured to send the DNS query packet to a DNS server that is configured to provide a name resolution service, wherein the DNS server is further configured to provide configuration information for the service; 
 a receiving mechanism configured to receive a DNS response packet from the DNS server, wherein the DNS response packet includes configuration information for the service; and 
 a configuring mechanism configured to configure the service at the network node using the configuration information from the DNS response packet. 
   
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the configuration information is specific to a corresponding level of granularity from one of: a host, a network node, a subnet, a location, or a company. 
     
     
         19 . An apparatus for providing configuration for configuring a service in a network node, the apparatus comprising:
 in a DNS server,
 a receiving mechanism configured to receive a DNS query packet from a network node, wherein the DNS query packet specifies a service that is to be configured at the network node; 
 a looking up mechanism configured to retrieve configuration information for the service from a database in the DNS server; 
 a creating mechanism configured to create a DNS response packet that includes the configuration information; and 
 a sending mechanism configured to send the DNS response packet from the DNS server to the network node, wherein the configuration information in the DNS response packet facilitates the network node configuring the service at the network node. 
   
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the configuration information is specific to a corresponding level of granularity from one of: a host, a network node, a subnet, a location, or a company.