Patent ID: 8533337
Filing Date: 2013-09-10
Classification: G06F,H04L

Abstract:
1. A method for updating a plurality of computers in a load balanced environment, comprising: (a) identifying, by a maintenance agent to a load balancer, a first computer as requiring maintenance, the first computer identified from a plurality of computers available to receive requests from the load balancer, and one of: updating a maintenance status of the first computer in a table tracking maintenance status of at least some of the plurality of computers, and tagging on the first computer the maintenance status of the first computer, the maintenance status indicating that maintenance is not up-to-date; (b) identifying, by the maintenance agent to the load balancer, a second computer as having (i) up-to-date maintenance and (ii) a load level below a predetermined load limit, the second computer identified from the plurality of computers; (c) assigning, by the load balancer, a request to the second computer responsive to the identification that the second computer has a load level below the predetermined load limit and that the first computer requires maintenance; (d) determining, by the load balancer, that spare capacity from the plurality of computers available to receive requests is above a threshold; (e) determining, by the load balancer, that the first computer is idle; (f) removing, for maintenance by the maintenance agent responsive to the determination that (i) the spare capacity from the plurality of computers available to receive requests is above the threshold and (ii) the first computer is idle, the first computer from the plurality of computers available to receive requests; and (g) identifying the first computer as having up-to-date maintenance responsive to the maintenance.