Per-request control of dns behavior

A system for resolving domain name system (DNS) queries, the system comprising:

• a communications interface configured to receive DNS queries via a communications network;
• and
• a processor configured to:
• receive a DNS query via the communications interface from a network device, the DNS query including control information provided by the network device that enables the processor to identify whether to use one or more options when resolving the DNS query;
• parse a domain name and the control information from the DNS query;
• determine an IP address using at least one of the one or more options for resolving DNS queries based the domain name and the control information;
• and
• generate a DNS response for the DNS query using the determined IP address.

A computer-readable storage medium configured to store a computer-executable program for resolving domain name system (DNS) queries, the computer-readable storage medium comprising:

• code for receiving a DNS query, the DNS query including control information provided by a first computer system that enables a second computer system to identify whether to use one or more options when resolving the DNS query;
• code for parsing a domain name and the control information from the DNS query;
• code for determining an IP address using at least one of the one or more options for resolving DNS queries based the domain name and the control information;
• and
• code for generating a DNS response for the DNS query using the determined IP address.