A load balancer (201) coupled between a network (220) and a pool (203) of processing resources utilizes a method for performing automatic, dynamic load balancing with respect to allocating the resources to handle processing requests received over the network (220). According to the method, the load balancer (201) electronically receives registration requests from the processing resources (203) and registers each resource from which a registration request was received. After the resources (203) have been registered but before they are allocated to handle processing requests, the load balancer (201) receives, from each registered resource, information relating to utilization of the resource. The utilization information may include operational metrics for the resource. Some time thereafter, the load balancer (201) receives a request over the network (220) to perform a server-related processing task. Responsive to the request, the load balancer (201) allocates at least one of the registered resources (203) to perform the requested processing task based at least on the previously received utilization information.