Processing incoming transactions based on resource utilization status of backend systems in an appliance cluster

An appliance, comprising:

• a bus;
• a memory connected to the bus, wherein the memory stores therein an instruction;
• and
• a processing unit connected to the bus, wherein the processing unit executes instructions to:
• receive an incoming transaction, wherein the incoming transaction is a specialized function for an appliance in an appliance cluster, and wherein all appliances in the appliance cluster share a same backend system that is in network communication with the appliance cluster;
• determine whether the incoming transaction can be processed by a receiving appliance in the appliance cluster based on a current threshold level and a current transaction count of the receiving appliance in the appliance cluster, wherein the current threshold level is a sum of a first quantity of transactions that can be handled by a first appliance in the appliance cluster plus a second quantity of transactions that can be handled by a second appliance in the appliance cluster on behalf of the first appliance;
• identify a target appliance from the appliance cluster as a negotiation device in response to determining that the incoming transaction cannot be processed, wherein the negotiation device negotiates with another appliance in the appliance cluster to receive the incoming transaction;
• and
• send the incoming transaction from the negotiation device to a lending appliance in the appliance cluster, wherein the lending appliance is an original member of the appliance cluster, wherein the lending appliance has a highest amount of available capacity to handle transferred transactions from other appliances in the appliance cluster, wherein the highest amount of available capacity is based on the lending appliance having a greater current threshold level than any other appliance in the appliance cluster, and wherein the lending appliance has never been chosen before to receive a transferred incoming transaction from another appliance in the appliance cluster.

A computer program product to negotiate the processing of incoming transactions based on resource utilization status of backend systems in an appliance cluster, the computer program product comprising a computer readable storage medium having program code embodied therewith, wherein the computer readable storage medium is not a transitory signal per se, and wherein the program code is readable and executable by a processor to perform a method comprising:

• receiving, by a receiving appliance in an appliance cluster, an incoming transaction from a client device, wherein the incoming transaction is a specialized function for an appliance in the appliance cluster, and wherein all appliances in the appliance cluster share a same backend system that is in network communication with the appliance cluster;
• determining whether the incoming transaction can be processed by a receiving appliance in the appliance cluster based on a current threshold level and a current transaction count of the receiving appliance, wherein the current threshold level is a sum of a first quantity of transactions that can be handled by a first appliance in the appliance cluster plus a second quantity of transactions that can be handled by a second appliance in the appliance cluster on behalf of the first appliance;
• identifying a target appliance from the applicant cluster as a negotiation device in response to determining that the incoming transaction cannot be processed, wherein the negotiation device negotiates with another appliance in the appliance cluster to receive the incoming transaction;
• and
• sending the incoming transaction from the negotiation device to a lending appliance in the appliance cluster, wherein the lending appliance is an original member of the appliance cluster, wherein the lending appliance has a highest amount of available capacity to handle transferred transactions from other appliances in the appliance cluster, wherein the highest amount of available capacity is based on the lending appliance having a greater current threshold level than any other appliance in the appliance cluster, and wherein the lending appliance has never been chosen before to receive a transferred incoming transaction from another appliance in the appliance cluster.