configuration protocol dhcp associated with addresses or other data may be used in dns a pointer ptr record implements a reverse dns lookup for an ip address in other words a ptr record maps an ip address to a name for a host in some embodiments a dns server maintains a set of internal records and a set of external records when a query is received an external record is derived from one or more internal records and the external record is returned for example internal records may include ptr records host address records and bulk host records from a bulk host record a ptr record may be derived and returned as more fully described below in some embodiments the records are a heap of unmanaged objects index 100 is shown to include various objects including index root 110 index table which includes reference 114 bind_ipv4_index to index 112 ipv4 index 112 includes reference 116 10 1 0 0 to edge 104 and reference 118 10 1 255 255 to edge 106 an edge or edge object stores references to ranges that overlap with match its corresponding address in this example bulk host 102 is inserted into index 100 a bulk host or bulk host record or bulk host object is a record associated with multiple hosts in a range of ip addresses the range may include a contiguous set of addresses bounded by an inclusive begin and end address as used herein u201c begin u201d and u201c start u201d may be used interchangeably bulk host 102 is associated.