Arrangement with cooperating management server node and network service node

A network including a client node and a plurality of server nodes interconnected by a communications link, at least one of said server nodes comprising a management server node and at least another one of said server nodes comprising a network service node for performing a network service with respect to said client node,

• A. said management server node including:
• i. a network service initiator arranged to transmit a network service initiation message for initiating a network service with respect to said client node;
• ii. a network status maintainer arranged to receive a status message from said communications link and to maintain the status of said network service in response thereto;
• and
• iii. a management server controller connected to said network service initiator and said network status maintainer and arranged to control the network service initiator to initiate said network service in response to the received status messages;
• B. said network service node including:
• i. a network service operator arranged to perform a network service with respect to said client node;
• ii. a network service enabler connected to said communications link and said network service operator and arranged to receive the network service initiation message from said communications link and to enable said network service operator to operate in response to the receipt of a network service initiation message;
• and
• iii. a status message generator connected to said communications link and to said network service operator and arranged to generate said status message identifying the status of an operation performed by said network service operator and to transmit said status message over said communications link,
• said network further comprising a master management server node connected to said communications link,
• A. said master management server node comprising:
• i. a master network service initiator arranged to generate a master network service initiation message and to transmit said master network service initiation message over said communications link to said management server node for controlling the management server node;
• ii. a master network status maintainer arranged to receive a master status message from said management server node regarding said network services and to maintain the status of said network service in response thereto;
• and
• iii. a master management server controller connected to said master network service initiator and said master network status maintainer and arranged to control the master network service initiator to initiate said network services in response to the received master status message;
• B. said management server controller further comprising:
• i. a master network service initiation message receiver arranged to receive said master network service initiation message from said communications link and to control the master network service initiator in response to the received network service initiation message;
• and
• ii. a master network service status message generator arranged to generate said master status message and to transmit said master status message over said communications link to said master network status maintainer;
• said network service operator further including a transmitter arranged to transmit a slave network service initiation message over said communications link, said network further comprising a slave network service node including:
• A. a slave network service operator arranged to perform said network service with respect to said client node;
• B. a slave network service enabler connected to said slave network service operator and arranged to receive said slave network service initiation message from said communications link and to enable said slave network service operator to operate in response to the receipt of said slave network service initiation message;
• and
• C. a slave status message generator connected to said slave network service operator and arranged to generate a slave status message identifying the status of an operation performed by said slave network service operator and to transmit said slave status message over said communications link,
• and wherein said management server node further includes a task scheduling scanner arranged to time the scheduling of network services, said management server controller also operating in response to said task scheduling scanner.

A method for managing the performance of a network service for a client node connected to a network including server nodes, said client node and server nodes being interconnected by a communications link, at least one of said server nodes comprising a management server node and at least another one of said server nodes comprising a network service node for performing said network service with respect to said client node, said method comprising the steps of:

• A. generating a network service initiation message from said management server node for initiating said network service with respect to said client node and transmitting said network service initiation message over said communications link;
• B. receiving status message from said communications link and maintaining in said management sever node the status of said network service in response thereto;
• C. initiating from said management server node network service in response to the received status message;
• D. receiving in said network service node said network service initiation message from said communications link,
• E. performing in said network service node, said network service with respect to said client node in response to said network service initiation message;
• and
• F. generating in said network service node said status message identifying the status of said network service and transmitting said status message over said communications link.