Single server access in a multiple tcp/ip instance environment

Abstract

Methods, systems and computer program products are provided that access a single server application executing on a processing system having multiple TCP/IP instances. The single server application may be accessed by establishing a registration repository containing information sufficient to identify to both the single server application and a client application seeking to access the single server application, one of the multiple TCP/IP instances through which the single server application may be accessed by client applications. In such a case, the registration repository is accessible by the multiple TCP/IP instances and the single server application.

1 . A system for accessing a single server application executing on a processing system having multiple TCP/IP instances comprising:
 a processor;   a registration repository containing information sufficient to identify to both the single server application and a client application seeking to access the single server application, one of the multiple TCP/IP instances through which the single server application may be accessed by client applications and wherein the registration repository is accessible by the multiple TCP/IP instances and the single server application; and   a utility which executes on the processor and provides means for accessing the registration repository to select a TCP/IP instance for connection to the server application.   
   
   
       2 . The system according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 means for establishing the registration repository; and   means for registering a TCP/IP instance with the registration repository if single server access is requested by a client application utilizing the TCP/IP instance.   
   
   
       3 . The system according to  claim 2 , wherein said means for registering comprises the steps of:
 storing an entry identifying an available TCP/IP instance; and   storing a time stamp associated with the entry identifying the available TCP/IP instance which identifies when the TCP/IP instance was registered with the registration repository.   
   
   
       4 . The system according to  claim 3 , wherein the entry identifying the TCP/IP instance includes a TCP/IP instance identifier and protocol information sufficient to allow connection between the TCP/IP instance and the client. 
   
   
       5 . The system according to  claim 2 , further comprising means for removing from the registration repository a TCP/IP instance which is no longer available for connection to the single server application or client access to the single server application. 
   
   
       6 . The system according to  claim 5 , wherein said means for removing comprises means for invalidating the registration of the TCP/IP instance in the registration repository. 
   
   
       7 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the single server application provides the means for selecting a TCP/IP instance from the registration repository to be used for connection to the single server application. 
   
   
       8 . The system according to  claim 7 , further comprising:
 means for storing an entry identifying an available TCP/IP instance in the registration repository;   means for storing a time stamp associated with the entry identifying the available TCP/IP instance in the registration repository; and   wherein said means for selecting a TCP/IP instance comprises means for selecting the TCP/IP instance with the earliest time stamp.   
   
   
       9 . The system according to  claim 7 , wherein the client application provides:
 means for accessing the registration repository to determine the TCP/IP instance through which the single server application may be accessed; and   means for connecting to the single server application by connecting to the TCP/IP instance through which the single server application may be accessed.   
   
   
       10 . The system according to  claim 9 , wherein the client application includes means for determining the TCP.IP instance through which the single server application may be accessed utilizing the same procedure by which the single server application selects a TCP/IP instance. 
   
   
       11 . The system according to  claim 9 , further comprising:
 means for storing an entry identifying an available TCP/IP instance in the registration repository; and   means for storing a time stamp associated with the entry identifying the available TCP/IP instance in the registration repository; and   wherein said means for accessing the registration repository comprises:
 means for accessing the registration repository to obtain the time stamp of entries in the registration repository; and 
 means for selecting the TCP/IP instance with the earliest time stamp as the TCP/IP instance through which the single server application may be accessed. 
   
   
   
       12 . The system according to  claim 9 , wherein the registration repository is stored in common storage and wherein said means for accessing the registration repository comprises:
 means for accessing the common storage location of the registration repository; and   means for obtaining from the common storage location registration information to determine the TCP/IP instance through which the single server application may be accessed; and   wherein said means for connecting to the single server application comprises means for connecting to the determined TCP/IP instance through which the single server application may be accessed.   
   
   
       13 . The system according to  claim 12 , wherein said common storage is directly accessible by the client and wherein said means for accessing the common storage comprises means for directly accessing the common storage. 
   
   
       14 . A system according to  claim 12 , wherein:
 said means for accessing the common storage comprises means for accessing a first TCP/IP instance to access the common storage location of the registration repository;   said means for obtaining registration information comprises means for obtaining registration information from the common storage location through the first TCP/IP instance; and   said means for connecting to the single server application comprises means for connecting to a second TCP/IP instance through which the single server application may be accessed.   
   
   
       15 . A computer program product for accessing a single server application executing on a processing system having multiple TCP/IP instances comprising:
 a computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable program means embodied in said medium, said computer-readable program means comprising:
 program means for establishing a registration repository containing information sufficient to identify to both the single server application and a client application seeking to access the single server application, one of the multiple TCP/IP instances through which the single server application may be accessed by client applications and wherein the registration repository is accessible by the multiple TCP/IP instances and the single server application; and 
 program means for accessing the registration repository to select a TCP/IP instance for connection to the server application. 
   
   
   
       16 . The computer program product according to  claim 15 , wherein said program means for establishing a registration repository comprises program means for registering a TCP/IP instance with the registration repository if single server access is requested by a client application utilizing the TCP/IP instance. 
   
   
       17 . The computer program product according to  claim 16 , wherein said program means for registering comprises program means for:
 storing an entry identifying an available TCP/IP instance; and   storing a time stamp associated with the entry identifying the available TCP/IP instance which identifies when the TCP/IP instance was registered with the registration repository.   
   
   
       18 . The computer program product according to  claim 17 , wherein the entry identifying the TCP/IP instance includes a TCP/IP instance identifier and protocol information sufficient to allow connection between the TCP/IP instance and the client. 
   
   
       19 . The computer program product according to  claim 16 , further comprising program means for removing from the registration repository a TCP/IP instance which is no longer available for connection to the single server application or client access to the single server application. 
   
   
       20 . The computer program product according to  claim 19 , wherein program means for removing comprises program means for invalidating the registration of the TCP/IP instance in the registration repository. 
   
   
       21 . The computer program product according to  claim 15 , wherein the single server application provides the program means for selecting a TCP/IP instance from the registration repository to be used for connection to the single server application. 
   
   
       22 . The computer program product according to  claim 21 , further comprising:
 program means for storing an entry identifying an available TCP/IP instance in the registration repository and   program means for storing a time stamp associated with the entry identifying the available TCP/IP instance in the registration repository; and   wherein said program means for selecting a TCP/IP instance comprises program means for selecting the TCP/IP instance with the earliest time stamp.   
   
   
       23 . The computer program product according to  claim 21 , wherein the client application provides:
 program means for accessing the registration repository to determine the TCP/IP instance through which the single server application may be accessed; and   program means for connecting to the single server application by connecting to the TCP/IP instance through which the single server application may be accessed.   
   
   
       24 . The computer program product according to  claim 23 , wherein the client application provides program means for determining the TCP.IP instance through which the single server application may be accessed utilizing the same procedure by which the single server application selects a TCP/IP instance. 
   
   
       25 . The computer program product according to  claim 23 , further comprising:
 program means for storing an entry identifying an available TCP/IP instance in the registration repository; and   program means for storing a time stamp associated with the entry identifying the available TCP/IP instance in the registration repository; and   wherein said program means for accessing the registration repository comprises:
 program means for accessing the registration repository to obtain the time stamp of entries in the registration repository and 
 program means for selecting the TCP/IP instance with the earliest time stamp as the TCP/IP instance through which the single server application may be accessed. 
   
   
   
       26 . The computer program product according to  claim 23 , wherein the registration repository is stored in common storage and wherein said program means for accessing the registration repository comprises:
 program means for accessing the common storage location of the registration repository; and   program means for obtaining from the common storage location registration information to determine the TCP/IP instance through which the single server application may be accessed; and   wherein said program means for connecting to the single server application comprises program means for connecting to the determined TCP/IP instance through which the single server application may be accessed.   
   
   
       27 . The computer program product according to  claim 26 , wherein said common storage is directly accessible by the client and wherein said program means for accessing the common storage comprises program means for directly accessing the common storage. 
   
   
       28 . The computer program product according to  claim 26 , wherein said program means for accessing the common storage comprises program means for accessing a first TCP/IP instance to access the common storage location of the registration repository;
 wherein said program means for obtaining registration information comprises program means for obtaining registration information from the common storage location through the first TCP/IP instance; and   wherein said program means for connecting to the single server application comprises program means for connecting to a second TCP/IP instance through which the single server application may be accessed.