Method and system for network management with per-endpoint adaptive data communication based on application life cycle

A method, system, apparatus, and computer program product is presented for management of a distributed data processing system. The present invention uses an improved iterator methodology to dynamically adapt the administrative communication operations of the network management system so as to minimize the potential impact on system performance, including customer applications, that might be caused by system management operations. In particular, the adjustments to the operations occur in accordance with a phase or life cycle state of system management applications.