ClosestNode.com: DNS redirection service
A DNS redirection service for closest node selection
ClosestNode.com provides a simple, easy to use service for large-scale distributed applications to direct their clients to the closest application server, without any client side changes.
It works by redirecting DNS requests for yourdomain.closestnode.com to the closest server to the client that submitted the DNS request. The closest node selection is provided by a network location service called Meridian, and requires no changes to the clients, and minimal changes to the servers.
This service is provided free of charge, and serves as a demonstration of current research at Cornell University.
We're hoping this will be a useful service for other distributed system builders in the community, both in academia or in industry. The main goal of ClosestNode.com is to allow other people to take advantage of the latency benefits in selecting nodes based on the network position of the clients, without having to get their hands dirty in the network location service world.
Simply register with us, and we will provide you with the subdomainyourdomain.closestnode.com. On each of your nodes, either integrate a Meridian instance into your distributed application, or simply run the provided standalone Meridian program as part of the launch script for your application. After telling us the IP address of a few of your nodes, and making sure you've configured Meridian to use your assigned ID, you're ready to go. It's basically as simple as that. When you clients resolve yourdomain.closestnode.com, they will get the IP address of your closest server to them.
Currently, the registration system is not fully automated. Some of the above exchange will be through e-mail. We'll add a more automated way to add and modify your account in the future, but for now, feel free to e-mail me at bwong AT cs DOT cornell DOT edu if you have any questions.
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