In BCAM V21 and higher “long computer names” can be used to identify hosts (also virtual hosts) and processors. This means that DNS names – more precisely Fully Qualified Domain Names (FQDNs) – are administered in BCAM. An FQDN is unique within the Domain Name System. An addressable object, e.g. an internet server, is identified unambiguously by an FQDN. An object can be identified by more than one FQDN. FQDNs which identify the same object are called aliases.
A domain name is a structured character string which complies with specific syntax rules. A domain name consists of labels which are separated from each other by a period. The maximum length of a label is 63 characters (bytes). The maximum length of an FQDN is 255 characters, including periods. The number of labels in an FQDN is limited only by the maximum length of the FQDN. The structure of valid DNS names is described in RFC1034 and RFC1035. Please also note the adjustments and enhancements to the RFCs from more recent RFCs.
BCAM and SOCKETS applications can use the same name for the same object, which makes diagnosis and identification considerably easier.