A system for distributing incoming client requests across multiple servers in
a
networked client-server computer environment processes all requests as a set that
occur within a given time interval and collects information on both the attributes
of the requests and the resource capability of the servers to dynamically allocate
the requests in a set to the appropriate servers upon the completion of the time
interval. Preferably, the system includes a request table to collect at least two
requests incoming within a predetermined time interval. A request examiner routine
analyzes each collected request with respect to at least one attribute. A system
status monitor collects resource capability information of each server in a resource
table. An optimization and allocation process distributes collected requests in
the request table across the multiple servers upon completion of said time interval
based on an optimization of potential pairings of the requests in the request table
with the servers in the resource table. The optimization and allocation process
preferably analyzes metrics maintained in the request table and resource table
as part of a relational database to allocate requests to servers based on a minimization
of the metric distance between pairings of requests and servers. Preferably, the
request table is part of a dynamic, relational database and a process of statistical
inference for ascertaining expected demand patterns involving said the attributes
adds predictive information about client requests as part of the request examiner routine.