Patent ID: 8112518

Claim:
A method for managing a target system, said method comprising: providing a systems management framework of a data processing system, wherein the systems management framework comprises: said target system that includes an active agent and a plurality of meta-agents, a plurality of central servers that includes an active central server into which the active agent is logged, and a redirection layer configured to connect the active agent to the plurality of central servers, wherein each central server comprises an endpoint specific to each other central server in a one-to-one relationship for monitoring each other central server, wherein each meta-agent is configured to monitor the active agent for failure of the active agent, and wherein each meta-agent corresponds to and is connected to a unique central server of the plurality of central servers; said active agent receiving instructions from the active central server to perform management tasks on the target system, wherein the instructions are received by the active agent are from the active central server over a connection path through the redirection layer, and wherein said receiving instructions is implemented by a processor of the data processing system; a first meta-agent of the plurality of meta-agents monitoring the active agent; said first meta-agent detecting, from said monitoring the active agent, a failure of operation of the active agent; and in response to said detecting the failure of operation of the active agent, said first meta-agent reviving or restarting the active agent.