Q:

Best method to redirect internal DNS to external website? 

We host several web based applications outside of intranet.   The URL's to these applications are long, complex and overall not user friendly.   Ex:
http://hostingsite:port/approot/folder/folder/login.aspx <-- (production)
http://hostingsite:port22/approot/folder/folder/login.aspx <-- (dev)
http://hostingsite:port33/approot/folder/folder/login.aspx <-- (test)

I'd like to create an internal DNS entry to allow users to access these sites with ease.   Ex:
http://prod  --> http://hostingsite:port/approot/folder/folder/login.aspx
http://dev --> http://hostingsite:port22/approot/folder/folder/login.aspx

I'm not familiar with the DNS process and setup, as far as I know a DNS can only be redirected to an IP, but not to subdomains for directory paths as described above?   Is this a correct assumption? 
I am thinking for throwing up an internal webserver that will listen to the internal DNS entries and redirect to the external sites.   
http://prod --> [internal webserver] --> redirect --> http://hostingsite:port/approot/folder/folder/login.aspx

Is there a better way to do this? 

A:

You are correct.  DNS can only resolve the domain part but is unaware of any kind of path structure.  Therefore the esiest solution would be a webserver to redirect or reverse proxy, like you proposed.