Patent ID: 7203700

Claim:
A computer-implemented method for managing multiple instances of an application executing in a plurality of computers connected by a network, the method comprising: creating a new object for use by a new instance of the application, using an existing object currently being used by an existing instance of the application, said existing instance being one of the multiple instances of the application; setting up connectivity between the new instance and the network; and starting execution of the new instance of the application; wherein the new instance of the application uses the new object, and the connectivity to access a resource shared by the multiple instances of the application; and wherein each of the multiple instances of the application comprises a plurality of processes that are executing during performance of said creating, said setting up and said starting; wherein said creating, said setting up and said starting are performed automatically in response to an instruction to add the new instance; and wherein the new object is required by the new instance to access the resource.