Web serving system

1. In a network comprising a set of servers forming a content-delivery system, a computer-implemented method for distributing files among the servers in the set of servers, the method comprising:

selecting a file stored on a first server from the set of servers;

associating a first replication value with the selected file; and

determining, at least in part on the basis of the first replication value, that the selected file is to be replicated at a second server selected from the set of servers, comprising

defining a file set on the second server;

associating a second replication value with the file set;

comparing the first replication value with the second replication value; and

on the basis of the comparison, determining whether the selected file is to replace the file set;

wherein associating the first replication value comprises determining the first replication value at least in part on the basis of a file usage pattern associated with the selected file, and

determining the first replication value further comprises building a statistical model representative of an extent to which transmission of the selected file consumes transmission capacity.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

comparing a first quantity indicative of a size of the selected file with a second quantity indicative of a remaining capacity of the second server; and

at least in part on the basis of the comparison, determining whether the selected file is to be replicated at the second server.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein associating the first replication value comprises determining the first replication value at least in part on the basis of storage capacity consumed by the selected file.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein building the statistical model comprises recording requests for the selected file.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising determining the file usage pattern at least in part on the basis of requests for an instance of the selected file on the first server.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising determining the file usage pattern at least in part on the basis of requests for an instance of the selected file from the second server.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second server is one of a plurality of secondary servers available for storing instances of the selected file, the method further comprising:

determining whether the plurality of secondary servers is to be considered a pooled storage area; and

on the basis of that determination, determining whether the selected file is to be replicated at another server from the plurality of secondary servers.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising replicating the file at the second server.

9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving an instruction to replicate a selected file; and

causing replication of the selected file in response to the received instruction.

10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising replicating the selected file at the second server before receiving a request for serving the selected file from the second server.

11. A method for causing a content delivery comprising a set of servers interconnected in a network to serve content, the method comprising:

on a first server, identifying a file to be replicated, the file including the content;

associating a first replication value with the file;

replicating the file on servers selected from a set of secondary servers, comprising replacing a file set on one of the selected servers with the file to be replicated based on a comparison of the first replication value associated with the file and a second replication value associated with the file set;

in response to a request for the content, selecting a server for serving the file; and

serving the file from the selected server;

wherein associating the first replication value comprises determining the first replication value at least in part on the basis of a file usage pattern associated with the selected file, and

determining the first replication value further comprises building a statistical model representative of an extent to which transmission of the selected file consumes transmission capacity.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein replicating the file comprises selecting the server from a set of servers that includes the first server and the set of secondary servers.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein replicating the file occurs prior to receiving the request for content.

14. The method of claim 11 , wherein replicating the file comprises replicating the file from one server selected from the set of secondary servers to another server selected from the set of secondary servers.

15. A content-delivery system comprising a plurality of servers interconnected in a computer network, the servers including:

a first server having a file to be replicated, the file having a first replication value in excess of a threshold; and

a set of secondary servers, each secondary server configured to replace a file set on the secondary server based on a comparison of a second replication value associated with the file set and the first replication value associated with the file from the first server;

wherein the first server includes computer hardware and each secondary server includes computer hardware, and

wherein the first replication value is associated with the file to be replicated based at least in part on the basis of a file usage pattern associated with the file, and

the first replication value is determined at least in part by building a statistical model representative of an extent to which transmission of the file consumes transmission capacity.

16. The content-delivery system of claim 15 , wherein each secondary server is in communication with the first server via the internet.

17. The content-delivery system of claim 15 , wherein the set of secondary servers includes the first server.