Abstract: A computer system on a network uses IP multicast to recruit other computer systems to share in the processing of a job. When a computer system has a job to share, it recruits other computer systems to help process the job by sending a message that corresponds to a request to share the job to an IP multicast router. The candidate computer systems that receive the recruiter's broadcast determine if they can share the job according to one or more job sharing parameters. These parameters may relate to the job itself, network performance, security, or other criteria for sharing. If a computer system meets the parameters for taking on the particular job, it responds to the recruiter. The computer system then performs the job (or task) and returns the results to the recruiter.