Abstract: A mechanism for caching dynamically generated content is disclosed, wherein initially, a server receives a request from a client for a set of dynamically generated content. In response to the request, the server accesses a cached version of the requested content, which was generated previously, and determines whether the cached version is still valid. If the cached version is no longer valid (e.g. is out of date), then the requested content is dynamically generated and stored in a cache, replacing the outdated version. In addition, the freshly generated content is provided to the client in response to the request. The client is thus provided with the most current information. On the other hand, if the cached version is still valid, then the server foregoes generating the content. Instead, it provides the cached version of the content to the client. By doing so, the server reduces the time required to return the content to the client, and significantly improves system performance.

Abstract: Methods for monitoring an application running on a server are described. Method steps include maintaining counters of statistics related to operation of the application, collecting first operational statistics based on counters from one or more application components, collecting second operational statistics based on counters from one or more application runtime environment components, updating aggregation statistics based on the collected statistics, and storing the statistics for access by a presentation agent which can interface with external monitoring tools. The nature and level of the collected statistics provide valuable insight into the operation of the application of interest.

Abstract: Methods for reconfiguring an application running on a server, without restarting the server, are described. Method steps include reading application configuration information related to a new version of the application, constructing an application configuration based on the application configuration information, and providing the application configuration to the server. Advantageously, an application runtime environment within the server services new application service requests related to the application by referencing the new application configuration, while old application configurations are maintained for servicing, without interruption, existing service requests related to the application.

Abstract: A mechanism for servicing connections by disassociating processing resources from idle connections and monitoring the idle connections for activity is described. In one embodiment, a connection that is being serviced by a processing resource is disassociated from the processing resource when the connection is idle. The connection is handed to a poll manager for placement into one of several poll subsets. A poll thread associated with each poll subset is sends the poll subsets and poll requests to a poll adapter. The poll adapter uses the features of the operating system to monitor the connection for activity, such as by polling the connections to identify any pending events. The approach may be implemented on different operating systems by changing the poll adapter. The poll manager passes active connections to a work queue to wait for servicing. The present invention avoids wasting resources on connections that are idle.

Abstract: Methods for reconfiguring an application running on a server, without restarting the server, are described. Method steps include reading application configuration information related to a new version of the application, constructing an application configuration based on the application configuration information, and providing the application configuration to the server. Advantageously, an application runtime environment within the server services new application service requests related to the application by referencing the new application configuration, while old application configurations are maintained for servicing, without interruption, existing service requests related to the application.

Abstract: Methods for monitoring an application running on a server are described. Method steps include maintaining counters of statistics related to operation of the application, collecting first operational statistics based on counters from one or more application components, collecting second operational statistics based on counters from one or more application runtime environment components, updating aggregation statistics based on the collected statistics, and storing the statistics for access by a presentation agent which can interface with external monitoring tools. The nature and level of the collected statistics provide valuable insight into the operation of the application of interest.

Abstract: A mechanism for servicing connections by disassociating processing resources from idle connections and monitoring the idle connections for activity is described. In one embodiment, a connection that is being serviced by a processing resource is disassociated from the processing resource when the connection is idle. The connection is handed to a poll manager for placement into one of several poll subsets. A poll thread associated with each poll subset is sends the poll subsets and poll requests to a poll adapter. The poll adapter uses the features of the operating system to monitor the connection for activity, such as by polling the connections to identify any pending events. The approach may be implemented on different operating systems by changing the poll adapter. The poll manager passes active connections to a work queue to wait for servicing. The present invention avoids wasting resources on connections that are idle.

Abstract: A mechanism for caching dynamically generated content is disclosed, wherein initially, a server receives a request from a client for a set of dynamically generated content. In response to the request, the server accesses a cached version of the requested content, which was generated previously, and determines whether the cached version is still valid. If the cached version is no longer valid (e.g. is out of date), then the requested content is dynamically generated and stored in a cache, replacing the outdated version. In addition, the freshly generated content is provided to the client in response to the request. The client is thus provided with the most current information. On the other hand, if the cached version is still valid, then the server foregoes generating the content. Instead, it provides the cached version of the content to the client. By doing so, the server reduces the time required to return the content to the client, and significantly improves system performance.