Patent ID: 8090829

Claim:
A machine-implemented method, comprising: receiving, by a first backup server, a first request comprising a first session key value and a first primary server identifier, wherein the first backup server is one of a plurality of servers; making a first determination, by the first backup server, that the first request is associated with a first primary server based on the first primary server identifier, wherein the first primary server is one of the plurality of servers; making a second determination, by the first backup server, that the first primary server is not currently operational; generating, by the first backup server based on the second determination, a first ordering of potential backup servers by applying a deterministic algorithm to the first session key value; selecting, by the first backup server, a second backup server based on a first-ordered value from the first ordering of potential backup servers, wherein the second backup server is one of the plurality of servers; sending, by the first backup server based on the selecting, the first request to the second backup server; receiving, by the second backup server, the first request; making a third determination, by the second backup server, that the first request is associated with the first primary server based on the first primary server identifier; making a fourth determination, by the second backup server, that the first primary server is not currently operational; generating, by the second backup server based on the fourth determination, the first ordering of potential backup servers by applying the deterministic algorithm to the first session key value; obtaining the first-ordered value from the first ordering of potential backup servers; and processing, by the second backup server, the first request based on a determination that the first-ordered value from the first ordering of potential backup servers is associated with the second backup server.