Resolving multiple master node conflict in a DDB
First Claim
1. In a computer network having a plurality of nodes each of which has a DDB and one of which should be master node used to maintain contents of said DDB in each of said plurality of nodes consistent throughout said plurality in a manner to avoid a single point of failure, said plurality of nodes including a first master node and a second master node, a system for resolving conflict in said network between said first master node and said second master node comprising:
- means for establishing a temporal standard for comparison between said first master node and said second master node;
means for comparing said first master node against said second master node in accordance with said temporal standard to obtain comparison results;
wherein said comparing means comprises;
means for choosing between said first master node and said second master node if said first master node and said second master node were selected simultaneously; and
,means for determining which one of said first master node and said second master node was most recently selected to obtain a most recently selected master node if said first master node and said second master node were not selected simultaneously; and
,means for selecting said master node from the group of nodes consisting of said first master node and said second master node based on said comparison results, to resolve said conflict between said first master node and said second master node.
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Accused Products
Abstract
In a computer network having a plurality of computer nodes, a directory database (DDB) distributed throughout the network in each of the nodes, the contents of the DDB being maintained consistent or replicated throughout the network through the use of one of its nodes having been appointed as master node. The master node has a privileged status as compared to the other nodes. The master node updates each DDB in each node in its network or domain configuration when the configuration changes. A global administrator is a privileged user compared to other computer network users who has authority to replace or select a master node and to configure a domain, and who performs these and other functions by way of computer terminal screen dialogs offered by a graphical user interface (GUI) associated with the computer network. Only one master node per domain is permitted and if the password-protected global administrator'"'"'s security is breached, other users may select other master nodes for the same network resulting in master to master conflict. In the case of multiple master nodes attempting to be master for the same nodes in the same network at the same time, this conflict is resolved in one embodiment of the present invention by allowing the most recently selected purported master node to be the actual master node. This resolution is obtained in a manner that avoids a single point of failure. After resolution of this conflict the result is communicated by the prevailing master node to all nodes in the network. This resolution takes into account a global network with varying time zones, and further takes into account the remote possibility of a simultaneous appointment of two masters.
133 Citations
48 Claims
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1. In a computer network having a plurality of nodes each of which has a DDB and one of which should be master node used to maintain contents of said DDB in each of said plurality of nodes consistent throughout said plurality in a manner to avoid a single point of failure, said plurality of nodes including a first master node and a second master node, a system for resolving conflict in said network between said first master node and said second master node comprising:
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means for establishing a temporal standard for comparison between said first master node and said second master node; means for comparing said first master node against said second master node in accordance with said temporal standard to obtain comparison results; wherein said comparing means comprises; means for choosing between said first master node and said second master node if said first master node and said second master node were selected simultaneously; and
,means for determining which one of said first master node and said second master node was most recently selected to obtain a most recently selected master node if said first master node and said second master node were not selected simultaneously; and
,means for selecting said master node from the group of nodes consisting of said first master node and said second master node based on said comparison results, to resolve said conflict between said first master node and said second master node. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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17. In a computer network having a plurality of nodes each of which has a DDB and one of which should be master node used to maintain contents of said DDB in each of said plurality of nodes consistent throughout said plurality in a manner to avoid a single point of failure, said plurality of nodes including a first master node and a second master node, a method for resolving conflict in said network between said first master node and said second master node comprising:
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establishing a temporal standard for comparison between said first master node and said second master node; comparing said first master node against said second master node in accordance with said temporal standard to obtain comparison results; wherein said comparing comprises; choosing between said first master node and said second master node if said first master node and said second master node were selected simultaneously; and
,determining which one of said first master node and said second master node was most recently selected to obtain a most recently selected master node if said first master node and said second master node were not selected simultaneously; and
,selecting said master node from the group of nodes consisting of said first master node and said second master node based on said comparison results, to resolve said conflict between said first master node and said second master node. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 32)
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33. A computer program product for use in a computer network having a plurality of nodes each of which has a DDB and one of which should be master node to maintain contents of said DDB in each of said plurality of nodes consistent throughout said plurality in a manner to avoid a single point of failure, said plurality of nodes including a first master node and a second master node, said computer program product including a computer usable medium having computer readable program code stored thereon and executed by a processor for resolving conflict in said network between said first master node and said second master node, said program code comprising:
- program code for establishing a temporal standard for comparison between said first master node and said second master node;
program code for comparing said first master node against said second master node in accordance with said temporal standard to obtain comparison results;
wherein said comparing program code comprises;
program code for choosing between said first master node and said second master node if said first master node and said second master node were selected simultaneously; and
, program code for determining which one of said first master node and said second master node was most recently selected to obtain a most recently selected master node if said first master node and said second master node were not selected simultaneously; and
, program code for selecting said master node from the group of nodes consisting of said first master node and said second master node based on said comparison results, to resolve said conflict between said first master node and said second master node. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48)
- program code for establishing a temporal standard for comparison between said first master node and said second master node;
Specification