Method and apparatus for flash load balancing

• US 7,050,963 B2
• Filed: 09/12/2001
• Issued: 05/23/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Progress Software Corporation
• Original Assignee: Progress Software Corporation
• Inventors: Flavin, James D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rodriguez, Paul L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): GUILL, RUSSELL L
• Application Number:
  US09/949,657
• Publication Number:
  US 20020038331A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,714 Days
• Field of Search: 703/27, 718/105, 709/223, 702/182
• US Class Current: 703/27
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1001 for accessing one among a plurality of replicated servers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/10015 Access to distributed or replicated servers, e.g. using brokers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1008 based on parameters of servers, e.g. available memory or workload monitoring of computer activity G06F11/30
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/51 Discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/75 Indicating network or usage conditions on the user display
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/08 Protocols for interworking; Protocol conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/40 for recovering from a failure of a protocol instance or entity, e.g. service redundancy protocols, protocol state redundancy or protocol service redirection management of faults, events, alarms or notifications in data switching networks H04L41/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

An infrastructure for application service provision compiles a web top for a user to use in launching applications. The links in the web top are calculated to point to servers that have the best performance criteria for each permitted application and server available to the user. The link calculation may be made based on CPU usage, memory usage, the last server that the user was attached to and any other performance criteria.

Claims

1. A method for determining a best performing server hosting permitted applications for a user at a data center, the method comprising:

monitoring at least one performance characteristic of at least one application server;

storing performance information for the at least one monitored application server in a performance information database;

storing user access information in a user access information database;

calculating, based on the performance information for the at least one monitored application server and the user access information, an address of the best performing server for each permitted application for the user;

assembling a web page having at least one link, each link corresponding to an address of the best performing server for a permitted application for the user; and

providing the at least one link to the best performing server prior to receiving a request from the user to access permitted applications.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

monitoring a user logout; and

storing in the performance information database the identity of a last server that the user was connected to.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the calculating of the address is based in part on the identity of a last sever that the user was connected to.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the calculating is performed by determining a score based on at least one of CPU usage and memory usage.

5. A system for determining a best performing server for permitted applications for a user, the system comprising:

a server performance monitoring module implemented on a processor adapted to monitor at least one performance characteristic of at least one application server, to store performance information for the at least one monitored application server in a performance information database, to store user access information in a user access information database, and to calculate, based on the performance information and the user access information, an address of the best performing server for each permitted application for the user; and

a user interface module implemented on a processor adapted to assemble a web page having at least one link, each link corresponding to an address of the best performing server for a permitted application for the user, and to provide the at least one link to the best performing server prior to receiving a request from the user to access permitted applications.

6. The system according to claim 5, wherein the server performance monitoring module is further adapted to monitor a user logout and to store in the performance information database the identity of a last server that the user was connected to.

7. The system according to claim 5, wherein the server performance monitoring module is further adapted to calculate an address based in part of the identity of the a last server that the user was connected to.

8. The method according to claim 5, the server is adapted to calculate an address of the best performing server by determining a score based on at least one of CPU usage and memory usage.

9. A computer program product comprising:

a computer-readable medium having computer program code embodied therein which causes a processor to exute a process for determining a best performing server for permitted applications for a user, the computer program code adapted to;

monitor at least one performance characteristic of at least one application server;

store performance information for the at least one monitored application server in a performance information database;

store user access information in a user access information database;

calculate, based on the performance information for the at least one monitored application server and the user access information, an address of the best performing server for each permitted application for the user;

assemble a web page having at least one link, the link corresponding to an address of the best performing server for a permitted application for the user; and

provide the at least one link to the best performing server prior to receiving a request from the user to access permitted applications.

10. The computer in program product of claim 9, wherein the computer program code is further adapted to monitor a user logout and storing in the performance information database the identity of a last server that the user was connected to.

11. The computer program product of claim 9, wherein the calculating of an address is based in part of the identity of a last sever that the user was connected to.

12. The computer program product of claim 9, wherein the calculating is performed by determining a score based on at least one of CPU usage and memory usage.