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Frequently Asked Questions about
Vantio NXR
What is the Vantio NXR Service Delivery Module?
The Vantio NXR Service Delivery Module stands for NXdomain redirection. The NXR module allows broadband providers to deploy a new service that enhances their subscribers’ online experience by replacing browser error pages that result from mistyped URL names with broadband provider’s help pages.
Vantio NXR works by replacing a common kind of DNS error called NXDOMAIN that results from user typos of website names in a browsers’ header bar with a legitimate DNS response pointing to a help page hosted by the broadband provider. These DNS errors would normally result in an unhelpful “server not found” message to be displayed by the browser. The provider can add value to the subscribers and also respond to demands for new revenue by responsibly monetizing the hosted search service.
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Do I need Vantio Base Server to use Vantio NXR?
Yes. NXR is an optional Service Delivery Module that is implemented on the Vantio base server to enable a new provider-centric Web error redirection service. To enable this new service, the provider must have both the Vantio base server and the NXR module deployed on a server.
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Can I deploy Nominum Vantio NXR on my existing Nominum CNS servers?
The NXR Service Delivery Module is only supported on the advanced and extensible Vantio Base Server. If you are a CNS customer and would like to migrate to the new Vantio solution, please contact Nominum
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What is NXDOMAIN and NXDOMAIN redirection?
When a DNS query is sent to resolve a name that does not exist on the Internet, a specific type of DNS error called NXDOMAIN (Non-eXistent Domain) is returned by the DNS servers.
NXDOMAIN redirection is a technique used to replace the DNS error with a legitimate server address (redirect server) in response to the non-existent domain names queried. The client then connects to the redirect server to receive service. This solution is only applicable to name errors resulting from Web browsers, and not to name errors from other IP applications.
It is extremely critical that the use of NXDOMAIN redirection is used responsibly to redirect only browser errors. Otherwise, a number of applications and users on the Internet may be impacted negatively.
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What are the benefits of NXDOMAIN redirection?
When a user mistypes a website name in the browser, the browser displays an error page indicating that no such name exists. The browser is relying on the NXDOMAIN response received from the DNS server to display this error page. NXDOMAIN redirection can be useful when done right in delivering a value added service to the Internet user by replacing the browser error page with a broadband provider hosted help page. By presenting a helpful page with search suggestions in response to user typos of website names, the broadband provider helps the user reach intended web destinations quickly. Additionally, the provider can monetize the search service to generate new revenue.
While the benefits of NXDOMAIN redirection may be easy to understand, it must be implemented with careful considerations to ensure success. There are many landmines in enabling this service that the provider must carefully navigate to achieve success. Nominum’s Vantio NXR solution is designed by the world’s DNS experts as the most responsible implementation.
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What are the challenges in implementing NXDOMAIN redirection in my network?
There are four key challenges to implementing NXDOMAIN redirection in any provider network:
- All IP applications and users rely on DNS to successfully connect and receive services on the Internet whereas NXDOMAIN redirection is only helpful for Web applications. Implementing this solution for Web errors without negatively impacting other applications is a challenge.
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Although a help service in place of browser error pages can be beneficial to most Internet users, there will always be a small segment of Internet users that do not wish to be subject to this service. Allowing these users to easily opt-out of the service with persistent one-time action is a challenge.
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Internet usage is not a constant. It varies by geography, demographics, and time. Even within a provider’s network in a fixed geography, it changes with time. Ability to evolve the service to a dynamically changing Internet is a challenge.
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NXDOMAINS are only a small percentage of the overall DNS traffic responses, and implementing a solution to redirect these errors resulting from Web browsers must not impact the performance and response time of legitimate DNS responses. Many real-time Internet applications rely on DNS for mission-critical needs. Performing NXDOMAIN redirection in the network without impacting overall DNS performance / function is a challenge
Nominum’s Vantio NXR solution is designed to address the complexities of NXDOMAIN redirection and help the broadband provider overcome these challenges.
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What is different about Nominum’s NXDOMAIN redirection solution?
Nominum’s Vantio NXR is designed by the world’s DNS experts to be the most responsible and comprehensive solution to broadband providers. It is purpose-built for real-life provider implementations to ensure that:
- Non-Web applications are not degraded or disrupted in any way when NXDOMAIN redirection is implemented in the network.
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Users who do not desire to be part of this new help service get to opt-out with persistent one-time action.
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Broadband provider stays in complete control of the service and the end-user experience at all times and is able to evolve the service to continue to meet the subscriber needs.
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Overall DNS performance for legitimate traffic is not degraded as a result of implementing NXDOMAIN redirection.
In fact, Vantio NXR is a responsible response to help providers implement NXDOMAIN redirection right for it to be useful.
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How does Vantio NXR support user opt-out from redirection?
Vantio NXR supports the following three opt-out implementations:
- Dynamic in-network DNS reconfiguration based on persistent one-time user action to opt-out. These users are assigned a virtual view of the Vantio NXR server that does not redirect NXDOMAIN responses resulting from Web names. Nominum recommends this implementation because of it is totally transparent to the end user and fully preserves the NXDOMAIN response to the end user.
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Dynamic in-network HTTP cookie based opt-out that presents browser error pages instead of the search pages in response to Web errors. This approach is user transparent, however, it requires the user to opt-out each time cookies are cleared on the host machine.
- Static re-configuration of DNS servers on user hosts with addresses of the virtual Vantio view that does not perform redirection of NXDOMAINs. This approach is persistent and requires a one-time user action. However, it requires the user to reconfigure their DNS settings on the host machine.
Each provider must evaluate the tradeoffs of the above implementation choices and carefully choose the option that best fits their subscribers’ needs. In any event, providing opt-out is mandatory for the help service to be successful. Implementation option #1 above is the most preferred opt-out solution.
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What is Vantio NXR SureSurf technology? Does it allow me to control what domain names get redirected?
Nominum’s Vantio NXR SureSurf technology is the intelligent rules framework that control redirection of NXDOMAIN errors in a provider network. It helps define what domains get redirection and what don’t. Vantio’s SureSurf technology provides a comprehensive set of configurable rules to redirect Web errors to the search page under complete control of the provider. It helps evolve the redirection service as traffic and subscriber needs change.
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What search solutions does Vantio NXR offer?
Vantio NXR is a solution to perform responsible provider-controlled redirection of NXDOMAINS resulting from Web errors. It is designed to take the user to a search page to receive additional help. The actual content delivered on the search page is not within the scope of Nominum’s solution. Vantio NXR works with any search partner solution, and in fact provides business choices to the broadband provider.
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Does my DNS data get sent some place on the Internet?
Nominum Vantio NXR redirects browsers to a provider-hosted search page instead of returning an NXDOMAIN to the browser. It provides a completely in-network solution that keeps the traffic and the subscribers within the network. In some cases, a provider may choose to host the help service on the Internet in partnership with a search provider. Vantio NXR can be configured by the provider to redirect users to this externally hosted search page, in which case only the redirected users connect over the Internet to receive the help service. No DNS traffic from the end-user hosts is sent to external servers on the Internet.
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How do my subscribers benefit from Vantio NXR?
Subscribers receive a helpful page in response to Web errors that then takes the subscribers to intended Web destinations quickly. Nominum also has features that allow subscribers to easily opt-out if they don’t desire to participate in this service.
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