A node (101, FIG. 1), within a networked computer system (100), is capable of supporting communications with other nodes relating to operating multiple application instances in a master-slave configuration. The node initiates (602, FIG. 6) and maintains (FIGS. 7, 8) a state diagram (FIG. 2) for each application instance currently running in the master-slave configuration on the node or the other nodes. In addition, the node listens for new application instances that are discovered on the node or on the other nodes. The nodes can be interconnected using multiple networks (104, FIG. 1), and redundant messages received by the node can be ignored (FIG. 11), if those redundant messages would adversely affect maintenance of the state diagram for an application instance. When a node determines that it should no longer operate as a master for an application instance, the node can initiate a resignation process (FIG. 4), during which another node will attempt to become the master for the application instance.