Method and apparatus for handling data storage requests in a distributed data base environment

Abstract

A distributed database application for logging large volumes of data to a plurality of database servers. Central configuration management is employed to balance the database load, to direct requesting workstations to the appropriate database, and to manage the mirroring of data for fault tolerance and the location of distributed data for query, print, or archive purposes. This system is implemented using workstations and database servers, and configuration controllers connected to a dual network. Dual networks and dual configurators provide system redundancy for fault tolerance. The configuration controller provides database server access information to each requesting workstation. Each database server reports status and availability to the configuration controller which can then adjust future logging requests. The network operator can change the configuration stored in the configuration controller whenever reconfiguration is necessary such as by the addition of new database servers. A data logging modification is then communicated to each currently active requestor workstation by the configuration controller. Standard communications protocols are used between requestors, configurators, and the database servers which permits creation of a heterogeneous database server environment.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.