Discovering and monitoring server clusters

• US 10,348,577 B2
• Filed: 03/14/2016
• Issued: 07/09/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Keane, Thomas W., Joanovic, Vladimir, Findik, Ferit, Voloshin, Vitaly
• Primary Examiner(s): Yen, Syling
• Application Number:
  US15/069,343
• Publication Number:
  US 20160197795A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,212 Days
• Field of Search: 707201, 707640, 714 4
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1451 by selection of backup contents
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0663 Performing the actions predefined by failover planning, e.g. switching to standby network elements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/40 using virtualisation of network functions or resources, e.g. SDN or NFV entities
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/5012 determining service availability, e.g. which services are available at a certain point in time
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/01 Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1001 for accessing one among a plurality of replicated servers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1008 based on parameters of servers, e.g. available memory or workload monitoring of computer activity G06F11/30
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1029 using data related to the state of servers by a load balancer
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/51 Discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/5682 Policies or rules for updating, deleting or replacing the stored data

Abstract

In a server cluster, multiple nodes may host one or more virtual servers. Virtual servers that may be hosted by particular nodes are identified. From the nodes, status is provided as to nodes that are actively hosting virtual servers and status of nodes whether they are actively hosting or not hosting a virtual server. Failover events are indicated, including transition of a virtual server from a failed node to another node.

Claims

1. A method implemented by a first physical node in a server cluster that includes a plurality of different physical nodes, the method comprising:

the first physical node in the server cluster identifying one or more virtual servers that the first physical node is configured to host, based at least in part on one or more applications installed on the first physical node, wherein each physical node in the plurality of different physical nodes, including the first physical node, is configured to host the one or more virtual servers;

the first physical node and other physical nodes in the plurality of different physical nodes respectively receiving monitoring rules that are initially inactive and that, when activated, control how the server cluster is monitored;

the first physical node receiving an approval to host at least one virtual server of the one or more virtual servers, the approval being received as interface input;

the first physical node monitoring for failover events prior to receiving the approval for hosting the at least one virtual server, wherein corresponding monitoring rules for the first physical node remain inactive while the first physical node monitors for failover events;

only after the first physical node initiates hosting the at least one virtual server, the first physical node activating its corresponding previously inactive monitoring rules which are structured to control how the first physical node monitors the server cluster after receiving the approval to host the at least one virtual server, the now-active monitoring rules of the first physical node causing the first physical node to monitor the entire server cluster, wherein the other physical nodes in the plurality of different physical nodes are not hosting the at least one virtual server and still include corresponding inactive monitoring rules, and wherein the other physical nodes in the plurality of different physical nodes monitor the first physical node without monitoring the entire server cluster; and

the first physical node monitoring a status of the server cluster, including the least one virtual server, in response to receiving the approval.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the monitoring performed by the first physical node is performed based at least in part on the now-active monitoring rules.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the now-active monitoring rules comprise one or more of:

a frequency of monitoring the status of the least one virtual server;

one or more conditions of the at least one virtual server on which a determination of the status of the at least one virtual server is based;

a frequency of providing updates to a management server regarding the status of the at least one virtual server, the management server including a database storing relationships between a plurality of physical nodes and respective virtual servers hosted by the plurality of physical nodes;

or

an identification of the at least one virtual server being monitored.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising monitoring a node status of a second physical node, the second physical node hosting one or more other virtual servers.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

identifying a failure of the second physical node based at least in part on the node status;

performing a failover of the one or more other virtual servers from the second physical node to the first physical node; and

hosting the one or more other virtual servers after performing the failover.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising providing an alert to a management server after performing the failover of the one or more other virtual servers from the second physical node to the first physical node, the management server including a database storing relationships between a plurality of physical nodes and respective virtual servers hosted by the plurality of physical nodes.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the alert comprises one or more of an indication that the failover is successfully performed or an indication that the second physical node has failed.

8. One or more computer-readable hardware storage devices having stored thereon executable instructions that are executable by one or more processors of a first physical node in a cluster that includes a plurality of different physical nodes and that cause the one or more processors of the first physical node to perform acts comprising:

identifying one or more virtual servers that the first physical node is configured to host, based at least in part on one or more applications installed on the first physical node, wherein each physical node in the plurality of different physical nodes, including the first physical node, is configured to host the one or more virtual servers;

the first physical node and other physical nodes in the plurality of different physical nodes respectively receiving monitoring rules that are initially inactive and that, when activated, control how the cluster is monitored;

receiving an approval to host at least one virtual server of the one or more virtual servers, the approval being received as interface input;

monitoring for failover events prior to receiving the approval for hosting the at least one virtual server, wherein corresponding monitoring rules for the first physical node remain inactive while the first physical node monitors for failover events;

only after the first physical node initiates hosting the at least one virtual server, activating the first physical node'"'"'s previously inactive monitoring rules which are structured to control how the first physical node monitors the cluster after receiving the approval to host the at least one virtual server, the now-active monitoring rules of the first physical node causing the first physical node to monitor the entire cluster, wherein the other physical nodes in the plurality of different physical nodes are not hosting the at least one virtual server and still include corresponding inactive monitoring rules, and wherein the other physical nodes in the plurality of different physical nodes monitor the first physical node without monitoring the entire cluster; and

monitoring a status of the cluster, including the least one virtual server, in response to receiving the approval.

9. The one or more computer-readable hardware storage devices of claim 8, wherein the monitoring performed by the first physical node is performed based at least in part on the now-active monitoring rules.

10. The one or more computer-readable hardware storage devices of claim 9, wherein the now-active monitoring rules comprise one or more of:

a frequency of monitoring the status of the least one virtual server;

one or more conditions of the at least one virtual server on which a determination of the status of the at least one virtual server is based;

a frequency of providing updates to a management server regarding the status of the at least one virtual server, the management server including a database storing relationships between a plurality of nodes and respective virtual servers hosted by the plurality of nodes;

or

an identification of the at least one virtual server being monitored.

11. The one or more computer-readable hardware storage devices of claim 8, the acts further comprising monitoring a node status of a second node, the second node hosting one or more other virtual servers.

12. The one or more computer-readable hardware storage devices of claim 11, the acts further comprising:

identifying a failure of the second node based at least in part on the node status;

performing a failover of the one or more other virtual servers from the second node to the first node; and

hosting the one or more other virtual servers after performing the failover.

13. The one or more computer-readable hardware storage devices of claim 12, the acts further comprising providing an alert to a management server after performing the failover of the one or more other virtual servers from the second node to the first node, the management server including a database storing relationships between a plurality of nodes and respective virtual servers hosted by the plurality of nodes.

14. The one or more computer-readable hardware storage devices of claim 13, wherein the alert comprises one or more of an indication that the failover is successfully performed or an indication that the second node has failed.

15. A computing device comprising a first physical node in a cluster that includes a plurality of different physical nodes, the computing device comprising:

one or more processors; and

memory storing executable instructions that are executable by the one or more processors of the first physical node to cause the one or more processors to perform acts comprising;

identifying one or more virtual servers that the first physical node is configured to host, based at least in part on one or more applications installed on the first physical node, wherein each physical node in the plurality of different physical nodes, including the first physical node, is configured to host the one or more virtual servers;

the first physical node and other physical nodes in the plurality of different physical nodes respectively receiving monitoring rules that are initially inactive and that, when activated, control how the cluster is monitored;

receiving an approval to host at least one virtual server of the one or more virtual servers, the approval being received as interface input;

monitoring for failover events prior to receiving the approval for hosting the at least one virtual server, wherein corresponding monitoring rules for the first physical node remain inactive while the first physical node monitors for failover events;

only after the first physical node initiates hosting the at least one virtual server, activating the first physical node'"'"'s previously inactive monitoring rules which are structured to control how the first physical node monitors the cluster after receiving the approval to host the at least one virtual server, the now-active monitoring rules of the first physical node causing the first physical node to monitor the entire cluster, wherein the other physical nodes in the plurality of different physical nodes are not hosting the at least one virtual server and still include corresponding inactive monitoring rules, and wherein the other physical nodes in the plurality of different physical nodes monitor the first physical node without monitoring the entire cluster; and

monitoring a status of the cluster, including the least one virtual server, in response to receiving the approval.

16. The computing device of claim 15, wherein the now-active monitoring rules comprise one or more of:

a frequency of monitoring the status of the virtual server;

one or more conditions of the virtual server on which a determination of the status of the virtual server is based;

a frequency of providing updates to a management server regarding the status of virtual server, the management server including a database storing relationships between a plurality of computing devices and respective virtual servers hosted by the plurality of computing devices;

or

an identification of the at least one virtual server being monitored.

17. The computing device of claim 15, the acts further comprising monitoring a status of a second computing device, the second computing device hosting one or more other virtual servers.

18. The computing device of claim 17, the acts further comprising:

identifying a failure of the second computing device based at least in part on the status of the second computing device;

performing a failover of the one or more other virtual servers from the second computing device to the computing device; and

hosting the one or more other virtual servers after performing the failover.

19. The computing device of claim 18, the acts further comprising providing an alert to a management server after performing the failover of the one or more other virtual servers from the second computing device to the computing device, the management server including a database storing relationships between a plurality of computing devices and respective virtual servers hosted by the plurality of computing devices.

20. The computing device of claim 19, wherein the alert comprises one or more of an indication that the failover is successfully performed or an indication that the second computing device has failed.