Method and apparatus for computing over a wide area network

1. A cluster computer system, comprising:

a plurality of network accessible computers, coupled to a network, including:

a first network accessible computer configured to operate a first operating system,

a second network accessible computer configured to operate a second operating system different from the first operating system; and

a cluster administration computer, coupled to the network, configured to:

identify a network accessible computer for a client computer coupled to the network,

monitor a functionality of the network accessible computer and resetting the network accessible computer in response to a determination that the network accessible computer is functioning improperly, and

use a stored personal state to resume operations after the resetting of the network accessible computer;

wherein the client computer may operate an application program on the network accessible computer based upon the stored personal state that includes a network accessible stored prior state of a workspace of a previously used network accessible computer; and

wherein the workspace includes:

a previously created file structure, and

one or more windows that were open at a time the previously used network accessible computer was previously used.

2. The cluster computer system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of network accessible computers are coupled to the network with a corresponding plurality of communications channels.

3. The cluster computer system of claim 1 , wherein the first and second network accessible computers are configured to operate operating systems including at least one: Microsoft operating systems, Macintosh operating systems, UNIX operating systems, SUN operating systems, and HP operating systems.

4. The cluster computer system of claim 1 , wherein the network includes a TCP/IP protocol network, and wherein the identified network accessible computer is responsive to a keyboard and a pointing device of the client computer.

5. The cluster computer system of claim 4 , wherein the client computer is configured to display image information developed by the identified network accessible computer.

6. The cluster computer system of claim 5 , wherein the client computer is further configured to runs a client program to facilitate communication with at least one of the cluster administration computer and the identified network accessible computer.

7. The cluster computer system of claim 1 , wherein the cluster administration computer is further configured to control at least one function of the plurality of network accessible computers.

8. The cluster computer system of claim 7 , wherein the at least one function includes resetting a selected network accessible computer.

9. The cluster computer system of claim 4 , wherein the cluster administration computer is one of a plurality of cluster administration computers.

10. The cluster computer system of claim 1 , wherein the cluster administration computer is further configured to coordinate the sharing of at least one network resource by the plurality of network accessible computers.

11. The cluster computer system of claim 10 , wherein the at least one network resource includes a data storage device.

12. The cluster computer of claim 1 , wherein the cluster administration computer is configured to run a cluster administration program to facilitate communications between a client computer and a network accessible computer.

13. A method to provide access to a plurality of host computers, comprising:

receiving a request at an administration computer coupled to a network from a client computer coupled to the network and configured to run and view an application program based upon a stored personal state executable in a given operating system, the stored personal state including a network accessible stored prior state of a workspace of a previously used host computer,

wherein the workspace includes:

a previously created file structure, and

one or more windows that were open at a time the previously used host computer was previously used;

determining, on the administration computer, a host computer of a plurality of host computers, at least two of which have a different operating system, coupled to the network to run the application program for the client computer, wherein the client computer, the administration computer, and the host computer are communicatively coupled;

facilitating communication between the client computer and the host computer, wherein an input device of the client computer is configured to generate inputs to be placed in an event queue of the host computer, and wherein image information generated by the application program running on the host computer is viewed at the client computer;

monitoring a functionality of the host computer and resetting the host computer in response to a determination that the host computer is functioning improperly; and

using a personal state to resume operations after the resetting of the host computer.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the determining a suitable host computer includes determining the desired requirements for a host computer from the requested application program.

15. The method of claim 13 further comprising using a personal state of a client in the cluster administration computer.

16. The method for of claim 13 further comprising restarting an application program after an interruption.

17. The method of claim 13 wherein the determining a host computer is based upon input from a client.

18. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing executable instructions that, when executed, cause a computer to perform operations, comprising:

receiving a request from a client computer coupled to a computer network to access an application program;

determining a host computer of a plurality of host computers, at least two of which have a different operating system, coupled to the network to execute, at least in part, the application program based upon a stored personal state, the stored personal state including a network accessible stored prior state of a workspace of a previously used host computer,

wherein the workspace includes:

a previously created file structure, and

one or more windows that were open at a time the previously used host computer was previously used;

facilitating communication between the client computer and the host computer, wherein an input device of the client computer is used to generate inputs to be placed in an event queue of the host computer, and wherein image information generated by the host computer is viewed at the client computer;

monitoring a functionality of the host computer and resetting the host computer in response to a determination that the host computer is functioning improperly; and

using the stored personal state to resume operations after the resetting of the host computer.