Scalable database management system

A system for handling database requests for client systems over a network, the system comprising:

• a request handling module for receiving from a client a database request;
• a plurality of database servers for receiving and handling database requests;
• and
• a master control module, in direct communication with the request handling module and the plurality of database servers, for receiving the database request from the request handling module, determining an assigned database server from the plurality of database servers for handling the database request, prompting the assigned database server to load a database corresponding to the database request, and providing information regarding the assigned database server to the request handling module for the request handling module to directly provide the database request to the assigned database server.

A method for handling database requests for client systems over a network, the method comprising:

• communicating by a master control module directly with a plurality of database servers, for prompting the database servers to load databases the master control module assigning a previously existing database to an assigned database server selected from the plurality of database servers;
• receiving by the master control module a set of information about a database request from a request handler;
• determining by the master control module from the set of information that the assigned database server corresponds to the database request;
• and
• sending by the master control module an identification of the assigned database server to the request handler.

An apparatus for handling database requests for client systems over a network, the apparatus comprising:

• a plurality of database servers;
• a database server managing module, adapted to communicate directly with the plurality of database servers, for prompting the database servers to load databases, the database server managing module further adapted to assign a previously existing database to an assigned database server selected from the plurality of database servers and to determine that the assigned database server corresponds to a database request by examining a set of information about the database request;
• and
• a request handler communications module, for receiving the set of information about the database request from a request handler, and sending an identification of the assigned database server to the request handler.

A computer program product for a master control module, for handling database requests for client systems over a network, the computer program product stored on a computer readable medium and adapted to perform operations comprising:

• communicating by the master control module directly with a plurality of database servers, for prompting the database servers to load databases the master control module assigning a previously existing database to an assigned database server selected from the plurality of database servers;
• receiving by the master control module a set of information about a database request from a request handler;
• determining by the master control module from the set of information tat the assigned database server corresponds to the database request;
• and
• sending by the master control module an identification of the assigned database server to the request handler.