A method for managing a session with a client is described in which the method receives from the client a request for the session. The session is handled with a first virtual machine. The method places the session state information for the session into an object located in the first virtual machine's local memory. The method writes into a shared memory an object that contains the session state information. In response to a failure that renders the first virtual machine unable to handle the session, the method reads the object in the shared memory from the shared memory and places it into a second virtual machine's local memory. Lastly, the method receives from the client another request for the session, and handles the another request with the second virtual machine and the session state information.