Patent ID: 8280991

Claim:
A method for determining if a domain name system (DNS) server is functionally limited, comprising: sending an exploratory query that comprises “1.0.0.127.dnsbugtest.1.0.0.127.in-addr.arpa” to the DNS server, wherein the exploratory query is configured to detect an existence of a functional limitation in the DNS server without causing the DNS server to fail, and wherein the functional limitation causes the DNS server to: receive the exploratory query, which comprises receiving both a first portion and a second portion of the exploratory query; read only the first portion of the exploratory query; based on reading only the first portion of the exploratory query, send an answer in response to the exploratory query; receiving an answer to the exploratory query from the DNS server; and if the answer indicates that a functional limitation exists in the DNS server, causing a remedial action to be performed.