c++11boost-asioip-addressfqdn

Finding out if an stored hostname in std::string is a ip address or a FQDN address in C++


Is it possible to find out a string is a FQDN or an IP address using boost lib in c++. I have tried the below code which works fine for IP address but throws exception in case of FQDN.

// getHostname returns IP address or FQDN
std::string getHostname()
{
  // some work and find address and return
  return hostname;
}

bool ClassName::isAddressFqdn()
{
  const std::string hostname = getHostname();
  boost::asio::ip::address addr;
  addr.from_string(hostname.c_str());
  //addr.make_address(hostname.c_str()); // make_address does not work in my boost version

  if ((addr.is_v6()) || (addr.is_v4()))
  {
    std::cout << ":: IP address : " << hostname << std::endl;
    return false;
  }

  // If address is not an IPv4 or IPv6, then consider it is FQDN hostname
  std::cout << ":: FQDN hostname: " << hostname << std::endl;
  return true;
}

The fails in case of FQDN , as boost::asio::ip::address throws an exception in case of FQDN.

I have also tried searching for the same, in python something similar is availble but I need in c++.


Solution

  • Easy solution is that you just catch the exception thrown by addr.from_string

    try
    {
        addr.from_string(hostname.c_str());
    }
    catch(std::exception& ex)
    {
        // not an IP address
        return true;
    }
    

    Or if exceptions bother you, call the no-throw version of from_string:

        boost::system::error_code ec;
        addr.from_string(hostname.c_str(), ec);
        if (ec)
        {
            // not an IP address
            return true;
        }
    

    Otherwise, just use inet_pton which is available everywhere.

    bool IsIpAddress(const char* address)
    {
        sockaddr_in addr4 = {};
        sockaddr_in6 addr6 = {};
    
        int result4 = inet_pton(AF_INET, address, (void*)(&addr4));
        int result6 = inet_pton(AF_INET6, address, (void*)(&addr6));
    
        return ((result4 == 1) || (result6 == 1));
    }
    
    bool isAddressFqdn(const char* address)
    {
        return !IsIpAddress(address);
    }