Method, apparatus and system for parsing domain name in network

The invention relates to a method, apparatus and system for parsing a domain name in a network. One embodiment of the invention provides a method for parsing a domain name in a network. The method comprises the following steps: at a controller associated with a switch in the network, receiving a domain name system (DNS) request initiated by a client for the domain name from the switch, wherein the controller controls operation of the switch in the network; and based on a predetermined security constraint at the controller, controlling processing of the DNS request so as to obtain a network address corresponding to the domain name, wherein the DNS request is forwarded to the controller in response to a missed DNS record associated with the domain name in a first memory at the controller. Other embodiments of the invention provide a corresponding apparatus and system.