Abstract: The system and method for augmenting searching for data with public search engines, by submitting searches to special purpose search resources, such as search capabilities provided by private companies, universities, government web pages, and the like is described. Toward this end, a general purpose search engine is identified, and a special purpose search resource identified. A search query is submitted to the public search engine, and a first result is received in response thereto. The search query is also submitted to the special purpose search resource, and a second response is received thereto. These first and said second results are merged into a combined search result. Techniques for identifying, determining and recording use, and verify continued availability of special purpose search resources are also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention reduces network traffic between client computers and DNS server computers by allowing client computers to send information to DNS server computers that have implemented protocols RFC 2136 and RFC 1995. Network traffic is-minimized in DNS database updates between client computers and server computers by sending a small amount of data. The invention also minimizes the replication of DNS updates between DNS server computers in the face of protocol RFC1995 and defeats Windows Internet Naming System (WINS) referral by its ability to update DNS server computers that emulate WINS server computers and have WINS referral capabilities. Thus, when a client computer's data changes, updates to the DNS database are performed with the minimum number of activities so that the database reaches a desired state, where the minimum amount of data will replicate by sending the minimum content of data replication from one DNS server computer to another.