US 6,898,633 B1 · Selecting a server to service client requests

Abstract

Systems and methods for directing client requests and for selecting a back end server to service client requests. A front end server receives client requests and based on the URI of the requests, directs the request to a back end server. The client request can be for a private or a public folder and each back end server typically stores both private and public folders. If the request is for a private folder, then the front end server determines which server stores that user's private folder and directs the client request to that folder. If the request is for a home public folder, the front end server directs the client request to the server that is associated with the private folders of the users. If the request is for an application public folder, then the front end server selects one of the back end servers to service the client request. Advantageously, the front end server always directs the client request to the same server. If the selected server is unavailable, then the front end server is capable of redirecting the client request to an available server.

Claims29

Dependent claims

In a system including a client and a server system including a front end server and one or more back end servers, a method for directing a client request to a particular back end server, the method comprising the acts of:

identifying the particular back end server from a directory if the client request is for a private folder, wherein only the particular back end server stores the private folder of the client;
identifying the particular back end server from the directory if the client request is for a home public folder, wherein only the particular back end server stores the home public folder of the client;
identifying the particular back end server, from a list of a plurality of back end servers capable of servicing the client request, using a selection module if the client request is for an application public folder, wherein the selection module identifies the same particular back end server from the list for each client request of a particular user;
and
directing the client request to the particular back end server.

2 more elements

In a system including a client and a server system, the server system including a front end server and one or more back end servers, a computer program product for implementing a method for directing a client request to a particular back end server, the computer program product comprising:

a computer-readable medium carrying executable instructions for performing the method, wherein the method includes the acts of:
identifying the particular back end server from a directory if the client request is for a private folder, wherein only one of the one or more back end servers stores the private folder of the client;
identifying the particular back end server from the directory if the client request is for a home public folder, wherein only one of the one or more back end servers stores the home public folder of the client;
identifying the particular back end server, from a list of a plurality of back end servers capable of servicing the client request, using a selection module if the client request is for an application public folder, wherein the selection module identifies the same particular back end server from the list for each client request of a particular user;
and
directing the client request to the particular back end server.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Selecting a server to service client requests

Life of this patent

Selecting a server to service client requests

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims29