Load balancing in a network environment

A method of load balancing requests for an application received at a central server among a set of servers, wherein each server in the set of servers operates an instance of the application, comprising:

• selecting a policy for directing a request for the application to a preferred server, wherein said policy reflects a server factor for selecting said preferred server from the set of servers;
• configuring a first status object to determine a first status of said server factor for a first instance of the application;
• configuring a first server monitor object to receive said first status;
• configuring a central monitor object to receive multiple statuses of said server factor for multiple instances of the application, including said first status;
• examining said multiple statuses to select a preferred server;
• and
• updating the central server to identify said preferred server;
• wherein said server factor comprises a performance indicator specific to the application.

A method of distributing requests for an application among a plurality of application instances operating on a plurality of servers, the method comprising:

• selecting a policy for identifying a preferred server to receive a request for the application, said policy including a first server-selection factor;
• determining a status of said first server-selection factor for one or more instances of the application;
• storing an identifier of a preferred server on a central server;
• and
• directing a request for the application received after said storing to said preferred server;
• wherein said first server-selection factor comprises a performance indicator specific to the application.

An apparatus for balancing requests for an application among multiple servers operating multiple instances of the application, wherein the requests are received at a central server, comprising:

• a first server for operating a first instance of the application;
• a second server for operating a second instance of the application;
• a first status module for determining a first application-specific status of said first instance;
• a second status module for determining a second application-specific status of said second instance;
• a first server monitor module for receiving said first application-specific status from said first status module;
• a second server monitor module for receiving said second application-specific status from said second status module;
• a central monitor module for receiving said first application-specific status and said second application-specific status;
• and
• an update module for updating the central server to indicate one of said first server and said second server to receive a request for the application.

An apparatus for load balancing requests for an application received at a central server, comprising:

• a first status determination means for determining a first application-specific status of a first instance of the application;
• a second status determination means for determining a second application-specific status of a second instance of the application;
• central monitor means for receiving said first application-specific status and said second application-specific status;
• server selection means for selecting a preferred server from one of said first server and said second server;
• and
• updating means for storing an identifier of said preferred server on the central server.

A computer readable storage medium storing instructions that, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform a method for balancing requests for an application among a plurality of servers, wherein the requests are received at a central server, the method comprising:

• selecting a policy for directing a request for the application to a preferred server, wherein said policy reflects a server factor for selecting said preferred server from the set of servers;
• configuring a first status object to determine a first status of said server factor for a first instance of the application;
• configuring a first server monitor object to receive said first status;
• configuring a central monitor object to receive multiple statuses of said server factor for multiple instances of the application, including said first status;
• examining said multiple statuses to select a preferred server;
• and
• updating the central server to identify said preferred server;
• wherein said first server-selection factor comprises an application-specific detail.

A method of load-balancing multiple requests for an application, wherein instances of the application execute on a plurality of servers, the method comprising:

• receiving a client request for an application at a first server operating a first instance of the application;
• executing a first status module on the first server, wherein said first status module is configured to determine a first status of the first instance;
• executing a server monitor module on the first server, wherein said server monitor module is configured to receive a first status of a second instance of the application operating on a second server;
• examining said first status of the first instance and said first status of the second instance to select a preferred server from among the plurality of servers;
• and
• routing the client request to said preferred server.