Patent ID: 8560626

Claim:
A system comprising: a memory for storing a first numeric suitability value representing a performance metric associated with a first node of a plurality of computing nodes that execute a plurality of virtual machines; a communication interface configured to transmit a suitability message including the suitability value to the plurality of computing nodes; and a processor coupled to the memory and the communication interface, wherein the processor is programmed to: create a numeric score including the first numeric suitability value and an identifier associated with the first node; transmit via the communication interface a candidate message including the score and representing a proposal by the first node to act as a master node if the communication interface does not receive, within a first predetermined duration, a candidate message representing a proposal by another computing node to act as a master node or a master message indicating that another computing node is acting as a master node; and transmit via the communication interface a master message indicating that the first node is acting as a master node if the communication interface does not receive, within a second predetermined duration after the first predetermined duration, a candidate message that includes a numeric suitability value greater than the first numeric suitability value or a master message indicating that another computing node is acting as a master node.