1. A method, comprising: taking checkpoints, by at least one application service, of one or more sub-programs within applications executing across multiple computer nodes; and restoring said one or more sub-programs from said checkpoints in response to initiating recovery of one or more said applications by said at least one application service which is provided to said one or more sub-programs running on a primary node, while at least one backup node stands ready in an event of a fault and subsequent recovery, wherein said primary node and backup node are different nodes in the case of non-local recovery; and flushing and halting a transport connection during said taking checkpoints in response to execution of a transport control layer interposed between a distributed application and the transport connection, wherein the transport connection itself is not responsible for the flushing and the halting of transport traffic.