Load balancing between multiple web servers

A method for load balancing in a network environment comprising:

• providing a communication network;
• providing a plurality of servers coupled to the network wherein at least some of the servers provide redundant services;
• generating a request for a redundant service in a network-coupled client machine;
• directing the request to a network-coupled gateway machine;
• causing the gateway machine to select amongst servers providing the redundant services a particular server for the received request so as to balance load amongst the plurality of servers providing the redundant services;
• and
• after selecting a particular server, causing the gateway machine to generate a request to the selected server for the specified resources.

A system for improving performance of a network connected server comprising:

• an intermediary server receiving requests for server access from a plurality of sources;
• means for monitoring at least one variable affecting server performance;
• and
• a queue data structure within the intermediary server, wherein the queue data structure is responsive to the means for monitoring to release requests from the queue data structure in a manner determined to improve server performance.