In embodiments, a multi-phase approach can be used to deploy an application across a network or server cluster. A master deployer on an administration server is contacted, such as by a deployment tool, indicating that an application is to be deployed. The master contacts a slave deployer on each managed server that is to deploy the application, indicating that the slave should prepare for deployment. The slave can pull the application from an application source into a staging area for each managed server. In the staging area, each managed server explodes the application from an application archive file, if necessary, and attempts to load the application. The managed servers notify the master of the success of the load, and if all loads are successful each application can be moved to a production directory and activated.