Patent ID: 7475127

Claim:
A method of managing a plurality of components from a framework, the method comprising the steps of: establishing a composite resource that includes a plurality of members residing on a plurality of nodes in a networked system, where each member of said plurality of said members is capable of providing a common service, wherein said composite resource is configured to remain active as long as specified conditions are satisfied, wherein said specified conditions correspond to a user-specified minimum number of active members in the composite resource or to a user-specified minimum service level for the composite resource; monitoring, using framework resources, a state of each member of said composite resource; causing a component that requires said common service to request said common service from said framework resources; providing said common service to said component by: arranging, by said framework resources, for said common service to be provided to said component by a member of said composite resource, wherein any active member of the composite resource can be used to provide the common service to the component; when said member arranged to provide the common service ceases to be active, automatically causing said common service to be provided to said component by another member of said plurality of members, wherein any active member can be used to provide the common service to the component; maintaining a state of the composite resource independently of the state of each member of said composite resource such that the state of the composite resource remains active so long as said specified conditions are satisfied; continuously providing the common service from a member of the composite resource after the composite resource ceases to be active; in response to detecting that said specified conditions are satisfied, said composite resource ceasing to be active; and while not active, the composite resource continuing to be executed but no longer servicing requests for said common service.