A method is described that involves identifying which session a received request pertains to. The method also involves referring to information maintained for the session. The information comprises first information that identifies a queue that provides notifications of requests to a worker node that is assigned to handle the session. The method also involves entering a request for a session into a shared memory. The method also involves entering a notification of the request into the queue. The method also involves, after failure of the worker node, retracting the notification from the queue, and, identifying a new worker node to handle the session with a load balancing algorithm.