Apparatus and method for operating an aggregation of server computers using a dual-role proxy server computer

摘要

A client/server computer apparatus includes an aggregation of server computers connected to a transmission channel. The aggregation of server computers includes a dual-role proxy server computer, and a set of non-proxy server computers. A set of client computers is also connected to the transmission channel. The set of client computers generates remote procedure calls to objects that are stored on the aggregation of server computers. The remote procedure calls include non-client remote procedure calls to the dual-role proxy server computer and client remote procedure calls to the non-proxy server computers. The dual-role proxy server computer processes the client remote procedure calls only when the set of non-proxy server computers cannot process the client remote procedure calls. The processing of client remote procedure calls by the dual-role proxy server computer results in the passing of information so that the client remote procedure calls can obtain servicing from the non-proxy server computers. Thus, the dual-role proxy server computer operates as a front-end server for non-client remote procedure calls and an information agent for client remote procedure calls.