Handling http-based service requests via ip ports

Abstract

A computer implemented method, system and/or computer program product handles service requests for HTTP-based services via IP ports that are located on HTTP servers. These HTTP servers are logically coupled to a port sharing mechanism that handles service requests from clients, and each of the multiple HTTP servers provides the same HTTP-based service. A request for the HTTP-based service is sent to an IP port in a first HTTP server. However, this IP port has a current number of active IP connections that exceeds a soft cap. Nonetheless, this IP port is directed to accept and execute the request, and then to terminate its connection with the client. Any subsequent request for this same HTTP-based service is directed to another of the multiple HTTP servers.

1 - 7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . A computer program product for handling service requests for Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) based services via Internet Protocol (IP) ports on HTTP servers, the computer program product comprising:
 a computer readable media;   first program instructions to transmit a first request for a same HTTP-based service to a first IP port in a first HTTP server from multiple HTTP servers, wherein the first IP port is logically coupled to a port sharing mechanism, wherein each of the multiple HTTP servers provides the same HTTP-based service, wherein each of the multiple HTTP servers has a unique IP port that is not shared with any other HTTP server from the multiple HTTP servers, wherein the port sharing mechanism directs requests for HTTP-based services from a client to one of the multiple HTTP servers, and wherein the first IP port has a current number of active IP connections that exceed a soft cap of a predetermined value;   second program instructions to direct the first IP port and the first HTTP server to accept and execute said request for said same HTTP-based service, despite the current number of active IP connections in the first IP port exceeding the soft cap, and to subsequently transmit a message to terminate a connection between the first IP port and the client after executing said request for said same HTTP-based service;   third program instructions to receive a subsequent request for said same HTTP-based service from the client after said connection between the first IP port and the client has been terminated; and   fourth program instructions to transmit the subsequent request for said same HTTP-based service to an HTTP server, from the multiple HTTP servers, other than the first HTTP server; and wherein   
       the first, second, third, and fourth program instructions are stored on the computer readable storage media. 
     
     
         9 . The computer program product of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 fifth program instructions to set a hard cap for the first IP port, wherein the hard cap is a predefined limit for IP connections to the first IP port, and wherein the hard cap is only in effect during a predefined peak traffic time; and   sixth program instructions to, in response to determining that the hard cap has been exceeded during the predefined peak traffic time, override said directing of said first IP port and said first HTTP server to accept and execute said request for said same HTTP-based service and to immediately terminate the connection between the first IP port and the client; and wherein the fifth and sixth program instructions are stored on the computer readable storage media.   
     
     
         10 . The computer program product of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 fifth program instructions to identify which IP connections with the first IP port are temporary connections, wherein a temporary connection is scheduled to automatically terminate before a predetermined length of time; and   sixth program instructions to ignore the temporary connections when determining if said current number of active IP connections to said first IP port has exceeded said predetermined value; and wherein   
       the fifth and sixth program instructions are stored on the computer readable storage media. 
     
     
         11 . The computer program product of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 fifth program instructions to adjust a size of the soft cap according to a predicted level of request activity for said same HTTP-based service during different times of a day; and wherein the fifth program instructions are stored on the computer readable storage media.   
     
     
         12 . The computer program product of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 fifth program instructions to adjust a size of the soft cap according to a predicted level of request activity for said same HTTP-based service during different days of a week; and wherein the fifth program instructions are stored on the computer readable storage media.   
     
     
         13 . The computer program product of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 fifth program instructions to transmit an instruction to the client to include an exclusionary message in the subsequent request for said same HTTP-based service, wherein said exclusionary message directs said port sharing mechanism to send any subsequent request for said same HTTP-based service to said HTTP server, from the multiple HTTP servers, other than the first HTTP server; and wherein   
       the fifth program instructions are stored on the computer readable storage media. 
     
     
         14 . The computer program product of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 fifth program instructions to transmit a first instruction to the first HTTP server to reopen said first IP port in response to the current number of active IP connections in the first IP port falling below the soft cap; and   sixth program instructions to transmit a second instruction to the first HTTP server to transmit a reopen message indicating that the first IP port has reopened; and wherein the fifth and sixth program instructions are stored on the computer readable storage media.   
     
     
         15 . A computer system comprising:
 a processor, a computer readable memory, and a computer readable storage media;   first program instructions to transmit a first request for a same HTTP-based service to a first IP port in a first HTTP server from multiple HTTP servers, wherein the first IP port is logically coupled to a port sharing mechanism, wherein each of the multiple HTTP servers provides the same HTTP-based service, wherein each of the multiple HTTP servers has a unique IP port that is not shared with any other HTTP server from the multiple HTTP servers, wherein the port sharing mechanism directs requests for HTTP-based services from a client to one of the multiple HTTP servers, and wherein the first IP port has a current number of active IP connections that exceed a soft cap of a predetermined value;   second program instructions to direct the first IP port and the first HTTP server to accept and execute said request for said same HTTP-based service, despite the current number of active IP connections in the first IP port exceeding the soft cap, and to subsequently terminate a connection between the first IP port and the client after executing said request for said same HTTP-based service;   third program instructions to receive a subsequent request for said same HTTP-based service from the client after said connection between the first IP port and the client has been terminated; and   fourth program instructions to transmit the subsequent request for said same HTTP-based service to an HTTP server, from the multiple HTTP servers, other than the first HTTP server; and wherein   
       the first, second, third, and fourth program instructions are stored on the computer readable storage media for execution by the processor via the computer readable memory. 
     
     
         16 . The computer system of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 fifth program instructions to set a hard cap for the first IP port, wherein the hard cap is a predefined limit for IP connections to the first IP port, and wherein the hard cap is only in effect during a predefined peak traffic time; and   sixth program instructions to, in response to determining that the hard cap has been exceeded during the predefined peak traffic time, override said directing of said first IP port and said first HTTP server to accept and execute said request for said same HTTP-based service and to immediately terminate the connection between the first IP port and the client; and wherein the fifth and sixth program instructions are stored on the computer readable storage media for execution by the processor via the computer readable memory.   
     
     
         17 . The computer system of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 fifth program instructions to identify which IP connections with the first IP port are temporary connections, wherein a temporary connection is scheduled to automatically terminate before a predetermined length of time; and   sixth program instructions to ignore the temporary connections when determining if said current number of active IP connections to said first IP port has exceeded said predetermined value; and wherein   
       the fifth and sixth program instructions are stored on the computer readable storage media for execution by the processor via the computer readable memory. 
     
     
         18 . The computer system of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 fifth program instructions to adjust a size of the soft cap according to a predicted level of request activity for said same HTTP-based service during different times of a day; and wherein the fifth program instructions are stored on the computer readable storage media for execution by the processor via the computer readable memory.   
     
     
         19 . The computer system of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 fifth program instructions to transmit an instruction to the client to include an exclusionary message in the subsequent request for said same HTTP-based service, wherein said exclusionary message directs said port sharing mechanism to send any subsequent request for said same HTTP-based service to said HTTP server, from the multiple HTTP servers, other than the first HTTP server; and wherein   
       the fifth program instructions are stored on the computer readable storage media for execution by the processor via the computer readable memory. 
     
     
         20 . The computer system of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 fifth program instructions to transmit a first instruction to the first HTTP server to reopen said first IP port in response to the current number of active IP connections in the first IP port falling below the soft cap; and   sixth program instructions to transmit a second instruction to the first HTTP server to transmit a reopen message indicating that the first IP port has reopened; and wherein the fifth and sixth program instructions are stored on the computer readable storage media for execution by the processor via the computer readable memory.