Patent ID: 7206844

Claim:
A method of computing in a networked environment comprising: receiving, at a request handler on a local server in a local server tier, a request from a client tier; the request handler determining whether the request can be satisfied using software resident on the local server in the local server tier; performing the following if the request cannot be satisfied by software resident on the local server in the local server tier: the request handler consulting an information base to determine a location of new software to satisfy the request, wherein the new software is located on two or more application servers located in an application tier; the request handler choosing the new software from one of the application servers based on a load for each of the application servers; the request handler acquiring the new software from the chosen application server; and the request handler loading and retaining a copy of the new software on a local server in the local server tier; wherein the acquiring the new software comprises obtaining a properties file for the new software, the property file comprising additional information and dependencies useful in running the new software, and wherein the method further comprises examining the properties file and based on the examining, retrieving a resource for use by the local server in running the new software.