Distributed DNS Propagation for Multi-Cluster Service Discovery

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing cloud orchestration systems (COS) face challenges in discovering COS services across multiple COS clusters due to limitations in DNS name resolution, leading to throttling issues and delayed updates in central DNS services.

Innovation Solution

The implementation enables COS service discovery across multiple COS clusters by replicating DNS records in local COS cluster DNS servers, eliminating the need for a central DNS service and reducing the load on peer COS clusters.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a central DNS service is used for service discovery across multiple COS clusters, then service discovery can be achieved, but throttling issues and delayed updates occur

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveservice discovery reliabilityVSAvoidDNS update speed
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the centralized DNS service into distributed local DNS servers deployed in each COS cluster. Each local DNS server independently manages DNS records for its cluster, eliminating the single-point bottleneck and throttling issues of centralized DNS while maintaining service discovery capability across clusters through peer-to-peer communication.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a DNS propagator as an intermediary component that receives DNS record updates from the local DNS server and propagates them to peer clusters' local DNS servers. This mediator enables distributed DNS synchronization without requiring a centralized DNS service, resolving both the throttling and delay problems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If local DNS servers replicate DNS records autonomously, then the load on peer COS clusters is reduced, but DNS record synchronization across clusters becomes complex

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveDNS server loadVSAvoidDNS synchronization complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The DNS propagator serves as a standardized intermediary that simplifies the synchronization process. It provides a uniform interface for receiving DNS updates from local servers and distributing them to peer clusters, abstracting away the complexity of direct peer-to-peer synchronization while enabling autonomous local DNS operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback mechanisms where local DNS servers and propagators monitor and report DNS record states and synchronization status. This feedback enables automatic adjustment and reconciliation of DNS records across clusters, reducing manual intervention complexity while maintaining synchronization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP4376387B1Container orchestration system (COS) services discovery across multiple cos clusters based on cos cluster domain name system
Publication Date: 2025.05.14 SALESFORCE INC
  • EP4376387B1 patent drawingFigure 1A
  • EP4376387B1 patent drawingFigure 1B
  • EP4376387B1 patent drawingFigure 1C

AI summary

Container orchestration system (COS) service discovery across multiple COS clusters based on COS cluster domain name system (DNS) is described. An indication that a first COS service and first COS endpoints are created in a first COS cluster is received. In response to the receipt of the indication, a request to create, in a second COS cluster, a second COS service and second COS endpoints is transmitted. The second COS service and the second COS endpoints correspond to the first COS service and the first COS endpoints. The creation of the second COS service and the second COS endpoints causes insertion of first DNS records in a first DNS server that is local to the second COS cluster enabling COS pods of the second COS cluster to communicate with the COS pods of the first COS cluster through a network.