Patent ID: 7707289

Claim:
A server for accessing a resource on a network, comprising: a computer-readable storage device that stores instructions which when executed on the server enable actions including: receiving a request for the resource from a connection that is associated with a client; enabling selection of a method to select one of a plurality of server array controllers to handle each request from the connection to the resource; enabling selection of a method for load balancing each request from the connection, wherein the selected load balancing method employs modulus arithmetic to select a virtual server managed by the selected server array controller; storing connection data for the connection, including at least a first data that identifies the selected virtual server and a second data that identifies the selected server array controller; and referring each request that is associated with the connection to the selected server array controller based on the stored connection data including at least the first data and the second data, until another method is selected for load balancing each request from the connection, wherein the selected server array controller associates the client's connection with the requested resource and manages one or more virtual servers.