Improved methods and arrangements are provided in which a web server or like process includes a kernel-mode universal listener (UL) capability that utilizes the URL associated with an HTTP request to determine which user-mode worker process/application is to handle the request and route the request to the targeted worker process/application. Thus, for example, one implementation includes a kernel-mode HTTP listener that is selectively configured via a Web admin service (WAS) based a configuration store. The resulting configuration file in the kernel-mode UL process defines a plurality of configuration groups and application pools, etc. The Configuration groups include certain URL's, which have configurable properties applied to them. The configurable properties define which user-mode worker process is to handle HTTP requests. Fore example, application pools can be provided, which identify a worker process or processes that the HTTP requests are routed to. In certain implementations, an HTTP request queuing capability is also provided. The request queue provides time for worker processes/applications to start or get ready.