A system for performing active load balancing using at least one network device of a cluster of network devices as an authoritative domain name server, wherein the system comprises: a plurality of network devices grouped in a cluster , wherein each network device has a different respective device internet protocol IP address; wherein one of the network devices is designated as a master device; wherein the master device is assigned an IP address as the authoritative domain name server; wherein the master device is configured to receive a domain name service DNS query based upon a client request, select one of the network devices to communicate with the client based on the status information of each of the network devices, and return a device IP address of the selected one of the network devices in response to the DNS query characterised in that : each network device is configured to communicate status information to each other device, including the master device, in the cluster; an additional network device is comprised in the system configured to be grouped in the cluster, the additional network device configured to communicate status information to each other node in the cluster such that the additional network device is thereafter considered for selection to communicate with the client; any node in the cluster is configured to function as the master node; and wherein the system is further configured to designate a different network device as the master device, whereby the authoritative domain name server IP address is transferred to the different designated master device. a plurality of network devices grouped in a cluster , wherein each network device has a different respective device internet protocol IP address; wherein one of the network devices is designated as a master device; wherein the master device is assigned an IP address as the authoritative domain name server; wherein the master device is configured to receive a domain name service DNS query based upon a client request, select one of the network devices to communicate with the client based on the status information of each of the network devices, and return a device IP address of the selected one of the network devices in response to the DNS query characterised in that : each network device is configured to communicate status information to each other device, including the master device, in the cluster; an additional network device is comprised in the system configured to be grouped in the cluster, the additional network device configured to communicate status information to each other node in the cluster such that the additional network device is thereafter considered for selection to communicate with the client; any node in the cluster is configured to function as the master node; and wherein the system is further configured to designate a different network device as the master device, whereby the authoritative domain name server IP address is transferred to the different designated master device. each network device is configured to communicate status information to each other device, including the master device, in the cluster; an additional network device is comprised in the system configured to be grouped in the cluster, the additional network device configured to communicate status information to each other node in the cluster such that the additional network device is thereafter considered for selection to communicate with the client; any node in the cluster is configured to function as the master node; and wherein the system is further configured to designate a different network device as the master device, whereby the authoritative domain name server IP address is transferred to the different designated master device. <EOS>