Directory-based failure recovery and load balancing system

In a server system having a client computer, and a plurality of servers, at least one of the servers within said plurality being configured to operate a directory service, and at least two of the servers within said plurality being configured to operate resource management services which control overlapping subsets of tasks chosen from a master group of tasks, at least two of said servers within said plurality configured to perform overlapping subsets of tasks chosen from said master group of tasks, a method for controlling the assignment of tasks comprising:

• determining that the client computer requires that a first task be performed by a server computer configured to handle that task;
• causing the client computer to query a directory server to determine which of a set of servers within said plurality of servers is configured to handle said first task;
• causing the queried directory server to determine at least one server of the set of servers that is configured to handle said task, and to transmit information about said set of at least one server to said client computer;
• causing, in response to insufficient information for said client computer to choose a server capable of performing said first task, said client computer to transmit a request to at least one resource management service to cause said at least one resource management service to cause a first server chosen from the set to become configured to perform said first task;
• and
• causing said client computer to transmit a request to said first server that said first task be performed.

In a server system having a client computer, and a plurality of servers, at least one of the servers within said plurality being configured to operate a directory service and at least one of the servers within said plurality being configured to operate a resource management service and each of said servers within said plurality being configured to perform overlapping subsets of tasks within a master group of tasks, a method for performing the assignment of tasks comprising:

• determining that the client computer requires that a task be performed by a server computer configured to handle that task;
• causing the client computer to query the directory server to determine which servers within said plurality of servers is configured to handle said task;
• causing the directory server to determine at least one server within said plurality of servers which is configured to handle said task, and to transmit specific information about said at least one server to said client computer;
• causing said client computer to transmit a task request to a preferred one of said plurality of servers.

In a server system having a client computer, and a plurality of servers, at least one of the servers within said plurality being configured to operate a directory service, and at least one of the servers within said plurality being configured to operate a resource management service which controls overlapping subsets of tasks chosen from a master group of tasks, at least two of said servers within said plurality configured to perform overlapping subsets of tasks chosen from said master group of tasks, a method for controlling the assignment of tasks comprising:

• determining that the client computer, requires that a task be performed by a server computer configured to handle that task;
• causing the client computer to query a directory server to determine which of said plurality of servers is configured to handle said first task;
• causing the queried directory server to determine that at least one of the plurality of servers is configured to handle said task, and to transmit information about said at least one server to said client computer;
• causing said client computer to transmit a request to at least one resource management service responsive to said information not being sufficient for said client computer to choose a server capable of performing said task for causing said at least one resource management service to configure one of said plurality of servers to perform said task;
• and
• causing said client computer to transmit a request to said one of the plurality of servers to perform said task.