An apparatus and method for scheduling a job process on at least one node in a server data processing network. The scheduling is based on a state of at least two nodes in the network as well as a cost metric of installing a required application on at least one of the nodes in the network of nodes. The apparatus and method gathers metrics indicating properties associated with at least two nodes on the network, the metrics including a presence of an application necessary for running the process. A first cost factor for scheduling the process on a node in the network having the application necessary for running the process is compared with a second cost factor for scheduling the process on a node in the network that does not have the application necessary for running the process. Finally, a node in the network is selected for scheduling the process.