Method and system for parallel operation and control of legacy computer clusters

• US 20030195931A1
• Filed: 04/16/2002
• Published: 10/16/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/16/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Advanced Cluster Systems, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Dean Dauger
• Inventors: Dauger, Dean
• Granted Patent: US 7,136,924 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/205
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0213 Standardised network management protocols, e.g. simple network management protocol [SNMP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/18 Delegation of network management function, e.g. customer network management [CNM]

Abstract

A Method and System for Parallel Operation and Control of Legacy Computer Clusters is disclosed. Also disclosed is a system that permits the creation of a cluster computer using the legacy operating systems already existing on the computing devices. The system is further be able to seamlessly operate over a standard wide are network, such as the “Internet,” as well as over local area networks. The system further permits the individual computers to operate either as part of the cluster, or on local operations, without any need for modification to the other computers involved in the cluster. Still further, the system utilizes standard TCP/IP format for all internodal messaging. Finally, the system maintains performance “grades” for each cluster node, either by node self-grading, or by node reporting, such that the user can select which nodes to participate in a particular parallel application.

Claims

1. A method of providing a cluster computer, the method being implemented in at least two programmed computers, each said programmed computer comprising a processor, a standard operating system, at least one data storage system, at least one input device, at least one output device, and at least one external network interface, said network interfaces of all said programmed computers interconnecting said programmed computers over a communications network, the method comprising the steps of:

copying node control applications groups comprising applications defined by executable statements to said data storage systems of each said programmed computers; and

executing a node control application, said application a member of said group on each said programmed computer;

composing a grade message in one said programmed computer; and

transmitting said grade message from one said computer to another said computer over said network.

2. The method of claim 1:

further comprising the step of a first detecting prior to said composing, said first detecting comprising one said programmed computer detecting the size of said storage system and the speed of said processor; and

wherein said composing comprises composing a grade message responsive to said first detecting.

3. The method of claim 2,

further comprising a user input step prior to said composing step, said user input step comprising a user inputting family registration information;

and

wherein said composing further comprises said composing being responsive to said family registration information.

4. The method of claim 3,

further comprising a second detecting step after said first detecting step, said second detecting comprising said one computing device detecting the amount of available processing capacity remaining in said processor and the amount of available memory capacity remaining in said storage system;

and

wherein said composing further comprises said composing being responsive to said second detecting step.

5. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

a verification step after said transmitting step, said verification step comprising verifying said registration information; and

a receiving step after said verification step, said receiving step comprising another said computing device receiving said verified grade message.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

an encrypting step prior to said transmitting step; and

a decrypting step between said receiving step and said verification step.

7. A method of converting a conventional programmed computer comprising a processor, a standard operating system, at least one data storage system, at least one input device, and at least one external network interface, the method comprising the steps of:

copying a node control applications group comprising applications defined by executable statements to said data storage system of said programmed computers; and

executing a node control application, said application a member of said group in said storage system of said programmed computer;

composing a grade message in said programmed computer; and

transmitting said grade message from said computer to another computer over a communications network.

8. The method of claim 7,

further comprising a user input step prior to said composing step, said user input step comprising a user inputting family registration information to said programmed computer;

and

wherein said composing further comprises said composing being responsive to said family registration information.

9. The method of claim 8,

further comprising the step of a first detecting prior to said composing, said first detecting comprising said programmed computer detecting the size of said storage system and the speed of said processor;

and

wherein said composing comprises composing a grade message responsive to said first detecting.

10. The method of claim 9,

further comprising a second detecting step after said first detecting step, said second detecting comprising said computing device detecting the amount of available processing capacity remaining in said processor and the amount of available memory capacity remaining in said storage system;

and

wherein said composing further comprises said composing being responsive to said second detecting step.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising an encrypting step prior to said transmitting step.

12. A cluster computing system, comprising:

a first communications network;

a first computing device, said first computing device comprising at least one processor, a standard operating system, at least one data storage system and at least one interface to said communications network;

a second computing device, said second computing device comprising at least one processor, a standard operating system, at least one data storage system and at least one interface to said communications network, said second computing device in communication with said first computing device over said communications network;

a first cluster node control and interface application comprising executable statements being executed on said first computing device;

a second cluster node control and interface application comprising executable statements being executed on said second computing device;

wherein said first and second cluster node control interface applications exchange data messages, said data messages comprise encrypted registration information; and

whereby said first and second node control interface applications cooperate to share said processors and said storage systems of said first and second computing devices.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein said data messages are substantially in TCP/IP format.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein said cooperation between said first and second node control interface applications comprises sharing said processors commencing with said first and second node control interface applications first discovering each other using standard operating system protocols.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein said discovering in said cooperation comprises execution of services location protocol.

16. A method of providing a cluster computer, the method being implemented in at least two programmed computers, each said programmed computer comprising a processor, a standard operating system, at least one data storage system, at least one input device, at least one output device, and at least one external network interface, said network interfaces of all said programmed computers interconnecting said programmed computers over a communications network, the method comprising the steps of:

copying node control applications groups comprising applications defined by executable statements to said data storage systems of each said programmed computers; and

executing a node control application, said application a member of said group on each said programmed computer;

composing a capabilities message in one said programmed computer;

transmitting said capabilities message from one said computer to another said computer over said network; and

computing a performance grade responsive to the content of said capabilities message, said other computer performing said computing.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein said composing step further comprises said one programmed computer composing a capabilities message further including self-grade content;

and

said computing of said performance grade is responsive to said self-grade content.

18. A method of converting a conventional programmed computer comprising a processor, a standard operating system, at least one data storage system, at least one input device, and at least one external network interface, the method comprising the steps of:

copying a node control applications group comprising applications defined by executable statements to said data storage system of said programmed computers; and

executing a node control application, said application a member of said group in said storage system of said programmed computer;

composing a capabilities message in one said programmed computer; and

transmitting said capabilities message from one said computer to another said computer over said network.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein said composing step further comprises said one programmed computer composing a capabilities message further including self-grade content.

20. A cluster computing system, comprising:

a first communications network;

a first computing device, said first computing device comprising at least one processor, a standard operating system, at least one data storage system and at least one interface to said first communications network;

a second communications network;

a third communications network linking said first and second communications networks;

a second computing device, said second computing device comprising at least one processor, a standard operating system, at least one data storage system and at least one interface to said second communications network, said second computing device in communication with said first computing device over said first, second and third communications network;

a first cluster node control and interface application comprising executable statements being executed on said first computing device;

a second cluster node control and interface application comprising executable statements being executed on said second computing device;

wherein said first and second cluster node control interface applications exchange data messages, said data messages comprise encrypted registration information; and

whereby said first and second node control interface applications cooperate to share said processors and said storage systems of said first and second computing devices.