A composite resource is established that includes a plurality of members. Each of the members is capable of providing a comparable service. A coordinator monitors a state of each member of the composite resource. A component requests the service from the coordinator. The coordinator arranges for the service to be provided to the component by a particular member of the composite resource. When the particular member ceases to be active, the service is automatically provided to the component by another member in the composite resource. A state of the composite resource is maintained independently of the state of each member in the composite resource.