System, network device, method, and computer program product for active load balancing using clustered nodes as authoritative domain name servers

An apparatus comprising:

• a processor configured to receive status information from each of a plurality of network devices grouped in a cluster;
• the processor further configured to receive a domain name service (DNS) query based upon a client request;
• select one network device from among the cluster of the network devices including the network device itself to communicate with a client based on the status information of each of the network devices, and return a device internet protocol (IP) address of the selected one of the network devices in response to the DNS query,
• wherein the network device is designated as a master device and is assigned an IP address corresponding to an IP address of an authoritative domain name server.

A method comprising:

• designating one network device, among a plurality of network devices grouped in a cluster, as a master device, wherein the master device is assigned an internet protocol (IP) address corresponding to an IP address of an authoritative domain name server;
• communicating status information from each network device to at least the master device in the cluster;
• receiving a domain name service (DNS) query based upon a client request;
• selecting one of the network devices to communicate with the client, based on the status information of each of the network devices;
• and
• returning a device IP address of the selected one of the network devices in response to the DNS query.

A computer program product, the computer program product comprising at least one computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable program code portions stored therein, the computer-readable program code portions comprising:

• a first executable portion configured to designate one network device, among a plurality of network devices grouped in a cluster, as a master device and assign the master device an internet protocol (IP) address that corresponds to an IP address of an authoritative domain name server;
• a second executable portion configured to communicate status information from each of the plurality of network devices to at least the master device;
• a third executable portion configured to communicate a domain name service (DNS) query, based upon a client request, to the master device;
• a fourth executable portion configured to select one network device from among the cluster of the network devices to communicate with a client based on the status information of each of the network devices;
• and
• a fifth executable portion configured to return the device IP address of the selected one of the network devices in response to the DNS query.