A method for managing the introduction of a new non-backward compatible version of a software program running on an application server into a client/server networking environment, the method comprising: first distributing to a plurality of client systems to be served by the new non-backward compatible version of the software program of application server a client application operable in a downgraded mode compatible with the current version of the software program of the application server and in a valid mode compatible with the new non-backward compatible version of said software program; setting, upon installation in the client systems, the client application into a downgraded mode compatible with the current version of the software program of the application server; keep operating the client application of each client system in the downgraded mode until the introduction of the new non-backward compatible version of the software program of the application server; characterized in that the method further comprising: setting, upon introduction of the new non-backward compatible version of the software program of the application server, the client application of each client system into the valid mode compatible with the new non-backward compatible version of the software program of the application server, the setting including instructing a version server, the version server operating in the client/server networking environment and working in conjunction with a database, to change in the database a status value of the client system to correspond to the valid mode; querying each time client application is re-launched the version server, the query including an identification of the client system further including a client application version number; and obtaining from the queried version server the status value corresponding to the valid mode and operating, from that point on, the client application of the client system in the valid mode. first distributing to a plurality of client systems to be served by the new non-backward compatible version of the software program of application server a client application operable in a downgraded mode compatible with the current version of the software program of the application server and in a valid mode compatible with the new non-backward compatible version of said software program; setting, upon installation in the client systems, the client application into a downgraded mode compatible with the current version of the software program of the application server; keep operating the client application of each client system in the downgraded mode until the introduction of the new non-backward compatible version of the software program of the application server; characterized in that the method further comprising: setting, upon introduction of the new non-backward compatible version of the software program of the application server, the client application of each client system into the valid mode compatible with the new non-backward compatible version of the software program of the application server, the setting including instructing a version server, the version server operating in the client/server networking environment and working in conjunction with a database, to change in the database a status value of the client system to correspond to the valid mode; querying each time client application is re-launched the version server, the query including an identification of the client system further including a client application version number; and obtaining from the queried version server the status value corresponding to the valid mode and operating, from that point on, the client application of the client system in the valid mode. setting, upon introduction of the new non-backward compatible version of the software program of the application server, the client application of each client system into the valid mode compatible with the new non-backward compatible version of the software program of the application server, the setting including instructing a version server, the version server operating in the client/server networking environment and working in conjunction with a database, to change in the database a status value of the client system to correspond to the valid mode; querying each time client application is re-launched the version server, the query including an identification of the client system further including a client application version number; and obtaining from the queried version server the status value corresponding to the valid mode and operating, from that point on, the client application of the client system in the valid mode.