Improved scalable architecture and methods for e-commerce applications in a clustered computer system

摘要

An intelligent director agent configured for use in a clustered computer system having at least a first computer and a second computer, wherein both the first computer and the second computer are configured to run software modules pertaining to a software program. There is further included a software module selector configured for selecting one of the first computer and the second computer for servicing the transaction request. A method is also provided for enhancing reliability while upgrading a software program implemented in a clustered computer system from a first version to a second version. The software program is implemented as software modules, with the method ascertaining a certification level associated with each of the software modules. A method is also provided for maintaining a predefined acceptable fault tolerance level for a plurality of software modules implementing a software program running on a first plurality of computers coupled together in a cluster configuration, and coupled to a first intelligent director agent. The method further includes tracking status of the modules by using the intelligent director agent. A method is also provided for balancing load levels among a plurality of computers coupled together in a cluster configuration in a clustered computer system. Load levels are ascertained as responsive to data received from the plurality of computers at the intelligent director agent. A method is further provided for predictively preventing computer stress by reconfiguring a plurality of computers coupled together in a cluster configuration. The reconfiguring is performed prior to the stress occurring. The method includes predicting a first computer, from the number of transaction requests being serviced by the computer, that would experience computer stress at a future point in time. The method also includes loading another module of the software program on a second computer of the plurality of computers.