Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing domain name services includes a multi-threaded name server which concurrently handles multiple domain name resolution requests and is particulary well suited for an Internet host system controlling information relating to a very large number of domain names. A database coherency thread continuously refreshes a host name cache that is utilized by the multi-threaded name server. The multi-threaded name server may comprise a request dispatcher thread capable of spawning multiple child threads, resulting in a multi-threaded, non-blocking name server. One or more additional network services are also provided by the system, preferably through a common, centralized database. For example, in one embodiment, electronic message forwarding services are provided. In another embodiment, web services are provided wherein hypertext markup language (HTML) pages are dynamically generated from data in the database corresponding to the requested host name.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for mapping between a host name and a host address is provided. According to one aspect of the invention, a multi-threaded name server handles multiple concurrent name requests, and is particularly well suited for a host system controlling information relating to a large number of domain names. In a preferred embodiment as described herein, a multi-threaded name server comprises a request dispatcher thread capable of spawning multiple child threads. For each name request received by the request dispatcher thread, the request dispatcher spawns a child thread to handle the request. The child threads query a host name hash table to determine whether the host name hash table comprises a host name matching a host name in the name request. The result is a multi-threaded, non-blocking name server capable of handling multiple concurrent name requests for a large number of domain names.