Java Indexer + DotLucene + IIS question

[ms...@aol.com]

Hey-
 
I have the following situation, and I am looking for any suggestions...
 
First, here is my current configuration:
 
1. Java Indexer (windows service) created to index data from a SQL Server database...3 indexes are created
 
2. DotLucene is used on the front-end to search my index files...which means I am running on Windows Server 2003 and IIS 6.0 ( sorry guys :-P )
 
3. The index location(s) are read from a config file
 
4. I am currently running this site on one webserver (not a farm)
 
The problem is that I am moving to a webfarm shortly...and I am trying to figure out a way to replicate the index(s) that I am creating. The indexer indexes based off a bit field in the database, and a seperate thread runs in the background to optimize the index(s). 
 
Possible Solutions: 
 
1. If I use so me built-in replication or some other third party solution across the servers I think (tell me if I am wrong please) I may have an issue since the indexer compresses and writes and something may go wrong...
 
2. If I use a shared drive (UNC) to another clustered machine (not one of the webservers), I need to open ports for IIS and the worker process to talk to it...not a good idea
 
3. If I store on one web-server and have a shared drive from all other webservers to that one webserver, then I have a problem if that one webserver goes down for aby reason
 
4. I don't want to store the indexes in a database
 
5. I can get a Index Server to use (like a state server)...but I would rather not spend the money :-)
 
6. I can use some remoting solution to bypass the UNC idea...but this requires a coding change (not a problem if this is the best solution)
 
 
What I am looking for is someone who knows of the best solution...or if someone implemented something different than the above.
 
Thanks!
-Joe