Abstract: A plugin for an Internet web browser is disclosed. The plugin operates upon detection of a DNS look-up failure to attempt a DNS look-up on an alternative name server. By providing this functionality in a browser plugin, installation and operation are transparent to the user. Moreover, the plugin operates only in the event of a look-up failure so resolution of names using a previously configured server is unaffected. The alternative name server can contain references to names within an arbitrary namespace that can be determined by the operator of the server.