Abstract: Load balancing is achieved at the client side, rather than at the server side of a client-server network. Each client computer regularly receives a load balance list, enumerating respective addresses of multiple server computers. Each client computer executes a server selection function which determines the average load for each server in the list. In the event of a server computer failure, a system administrator can remove the server computer from the load balance list and reapportion the load. The client computer's list then is updated when the list is received during subsequent access. In the event a client computer determines that a server is non-responsive, such server is removed from the load balance list for the client computer which made such determination. The client computer also stores a back-up list of servers for use when all servers on the load balance list are non-responsive.