Abstract: A DNS server includes one or more zones that store information, such as IP addresses, associated with domain names. These zones include a global names zone that stores data correlating host names to domain names. When a name query is received from a client device, the DNS server checks the global names zone for a record associated with the host name. If there is no record for the host name in the global names zone, then the query is answered using the DNS records found in a local copy of the authoritative zone. If there is a record for the host name in the global names zone, then the query is answered using the DNS records found in the global names zone. The IP address associated with the domain name is determined and returned to the client device.