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While scanning some program network activity, I've found that it sends a request to lb-140-82-121-3-fra.github.com. After a quick search I've found out that there are more similar links. The IPs in the links belong to github IP-range, so both lb-140-82-121-3-fra.github.com and 140.82.121.3 will redirect me to github.com. What's the purpose of these links?

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    It’s important to use correct terminology. Those are not links, also not URLs. They are host names. They appear to you because of reverse DNS.
    – Daniel B
    Commented Nov 20, 2023 at 10:28

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Github dosen't run on 'one' server - it runs on many servers, including potentially CDNs, load balancers and 'actual' web servers and databases. There's probably a complicated system of things that determines what server(s) you actually connect to, usually hidden away unless you're actually looking at connections that were made

It is likely "lb" refers to load balancer, I'd guess they include the IP in the domain name for easy trouble shooting, and the "fra" or "ams" refers to the geographical location its in - either in a cloud instance or a physical datacenter.

Its a very neat setup if someone reports an issue, or better yet automated systems pick up and report an issue, and all the information you need to identify the role, IP and location of a server to troubleshoot an issue.

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  • "fra" looks like France, but what's "ams"? American South? Amsterdam?
    – wjandrea
    Commented Nov 20, 2023 at 18:10
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    @wjandrea It's almost certainly Frankfurt (am Main, Germany) and Amsterdam, both major internet hubs.
    – TooTea
    Commented Nov 20, 2023 at 18:31

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