System and method for providing indexing with high availability in a network based suite of services

1. A system configured to provide a server application with high availability, the system comprising:

a computing platform configured to act in coordination as a first server; and

a computing platform configured to act in coordination as a second server,

wherein the first server comprises a processor configured to execute a first set of computer program modules, the first set of computer program modules comprising:

a first server application module configured to facilitate access and interaction of a user with content and functionality served by the first server application module, wherein the first server application module comprises a first indexing sub-module configured to index information served by the first server application module, and to index metadata related to the information served by the first server application module; and

a first synchronization module configured to obtain configuration parameters of the first server application module, and to transmit the configuration parameters to the second server, wherein the configuration parameters include an index parameter of an index of information and metadata created by the first indexing sub-module, and include an identification of a shared services provider that refers to the index created by the first indexing sub-module; and

wherein the second server comprises a processor configured to execute a second set of computer program modules, the second set of computer program modules comprising:

a second server application module configured to serve as a backup to the first server application module, wherein the second server application module comprises a second indexing sub-module;

a second synchronization module configured to receive the index parameter from the first synchronization module, and to provide the configuration parameters to the second indexing sub-module,

wherein the second indexing sub-module is further configured to maintain an index according to the index parameter to accommodate switchover or failover of the first indexing sub-module to the second indexing sub-module; and

a replacement module configured such that, responsive to switchover or failover from the first server application module to the second server application module, the replacement module replaces the first indexing sub-module with the second indexing sub-module in the shared services provider identified in the configuration parameters received from the first synchronization module.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first server application is configured to provide at least a first web server, a first application server, and a first database server.

3. The system of claim 1 , further comprising the shared services provider, the shared services provider configured to provide shared services to the first server application module and the second server application module, wherein the shared services provider is configured to reference the index maintained by the first indexing sub-module prior to switchover or failover.

4. The system of claim 3 , wherein the services provided by the shared services provider comprise one or more selected from: a user information service, a business data catalog service, a spreadsheet service, or a search usage service.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first synchronization module is configured to obtain the configuration parameters via an application programming interface provided by the first server application module.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the second synchronization module is configured to provide the configuration parameters to the second indexing sub-module via an application programming interface provided by the second server application module.

7. The system of claim 5 , wherein the first synchronization module is a background process.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first server application module is provided by Microsoft® Sharepoint™.

9. A method of providing a server application with high availability, wherein the method is implemented in a computer system comprising a computing platform configured to act in coordination as a first server and a computing platform configured to act in coordination as a second server, the method comprising:

executing, using a processor of the first server, a first instance of a server application that facilitates access and interaction of a user with content and functionality served by the first server, wherein the first instance of the server application provides a first indexing service configured to index information served by the first server, and index metadata related to the information served by the first server;

obtaining, using a processor of the second server, configuration parameters of the first instance of the server application, wherein the configuration parameters include an index parameter of an index of information and metadata created by the first indexing service, and an identification of a shared service provider that refers to the index created by the first indexing service;

executing, on the second server, a second instance of the server application, wherein the second instance of the server application provides a second indexing service configured to maintain an index according to the index parameter from the first indexing service to accommodate switchover or failover of the first indexing service to the second indexing service; and

responsive to switchover or failover of the first instance of the server application to the second instance of the server application, transmitting a replacement command from the second server that replaces the first indexing service with the second indexing service in the shared services provider.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the first instance of the server application provides at least a first web server, a first application server, and a first database server.

11. The method of claim 9 , wherein the shared service provider provides one or more selected from: a user information service, a business data catalog service, a spreadsheet calculation service, or a search usage service.

12. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:

obtaining the configuration parameters on the first server through an application programming interface associated with the first instance of the server application; and

transmitting the obtained configuration parameters to the second server.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the second indexing service receives the configuration parameters via an application programming interface associated with the second instance of the server application.

14. The method of claim 12 , wherein obtaining the configuration parameters through an application programming interface associated with the first instance of the server application is a background process.

15. The method of claim 9 , wherein the server application is provided by Microsoft® Sharepoint™.