Multi-class heterogeneous clients in a clustered filesystem
First Claim
1. A method for operating a cluster file system for a cluster connected by a storage area network, comprising:
- receiving by a candidate node having one or more processors and a local memory, from a cluster database server maintaining a cluster configuration database, a periodic multicast of a cluster database server address, an incarnation number of the cluster database server, and a database generation identifier for the cluster configuration database;
establishing by the candidate node a communication link with the cluster database server in response to the multicast cluster database server address and the database generation identifier;
requesting by the candidate node cluster information from the cluster database server to join the cluster, the cluster information including an address for at least one switch in the storage area network;
obtaining by the candidate node from the at least one switch at least one port address of at least one port connected to at least one host bus adapter of the candidate node;
sending the at least one port address and an address of the at least one host bus adapter from the candidate node to the cluster database server to update the cluster configuration database concerning the cluster maintained by the cluster database server;
requesting membership in the cluster by the candidate node;
monitoring changes in the multicast cluster database server address, the incarnation number and the database generation identifier, wherein the changes indicate the candidate node is to request a new cluster configuration and update cluster configuration data; and
reconfiguring the cluster file system and a kernel based on the new cluster configuration and the update of the cluster configuration data.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A cluster of computer system nodes connected by a storage area network include two classes of nodes. The first class of nodes can act as clients or servers, while the other nodes can only be clients. The client-only nodes require much less functionality and can be more easily supported by different operating systems. To minimize the amount of data transmitted during normal operation, the server responsible for maintaining a cluster configuration database repeatedly multicasts the IP address, its incarnation number and the most recent database generation number. Each node stores this information and when a change is detected, each node can request an update of the data needed by that node. A client-only node uses the IP address of the server to connect to the server, to download the information from the cluster database required by the client-only node and to upload local disk connectivity information.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for operating a cluster file system for a cluster connected by a storage area network, comprising:
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receiving by a candidate node having one or more processors and a local memory, from a cluster database server maintaining a cluster configuration database, a periodic multicast of a cluster database server address, an incarnation number of the cluster database server, and a database generation identifier for the cluster configuration database; establishing by the candidate node a communication link with the cluster database server in response to the multicast cluster database server address and the database generation identifier; requesting by the candidate node cluster information from the cluster database server to join the cluster, the cluster information including an address for at least one switch in the storage area network; obtaining by the candidate node from the at least one switch at least one port address of at least one port connected to at least one host bus adapter of the candidate node; sending the at least one port address and an address of the at least one host bus adapter from the candidate node to the cluster database server to update the cluster configuration database concerning the cluster maintained by the cluster database server; requesting membership in the cluster by the candidate node; monitoring changes in the multicast cluster database server address, the incarnation number and the database generation identifier, wherein the changes indicate the candidate node is to request a new cluster configuration and update cluster configuration data; and reconfiguring the cluster file system and a kernel based on the new cluster configuration and the update of the cluster configuration data. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium including code for operating a cluster file system for a cluster connected by a storage area network, the code configured to:
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receive by a candidate node having one or more processors and a local memory, from a cluster database server maintaining a cluster configuration database, a periodic multicast of a cluster database server address, an incarnation number of the cluster database server, and a database generation identifier for the cluster configuration database; establish by the candidate node a communication link with the cluster database server in response to the multicast cluster database server address, the incarnation number, and the database generation identifier; request by the candidate node cluster information from the cluster database server to join the cluster, the cluster information including an address for at least one switch in the storage area network; obtain by the candidate node from the at least one switch at least one port address of at least one port connected to at least one host bus adapter of the candidate node; send the at least one port address and an address of the at least one host bus adapter from the candidate node to the cluster database server to update cluster configuration database concerning the cluster maintained by the cluster database server; request membership in the cluster by the candidate node; monitor changes in the multicast cluster database server address, the incarnation number and the database generation identifier, wherein the changes indicate the candidate node is to request a new cluster configuration and update the cluster configuration data; and reconfigure the cluster file system and a kernel based on the new cluster configuration and update of the cluster configuration data. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A system for operating a cluster file system for a cluster connected by a storage area network, comprising:
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means for receiving by a candidate node having one or more processors and a local memory, from a cluster database server maintaining a cluster configuration database, a periodic multicast of a cluster database server address, an incarnation number of the cluster database server, and a database generation identifier for the cluster configuration database; means for establishing by the candidate node a communication link with the cluster database server in response to the multicast cluster database server address and the database generation identifier; means for requesting by the candidate node cluster information from the cluster database server to join the cluster, the cluster information including an address for at least one switch in the storage area network; means for obtaining by the candidate node from the at least one switch at least one port address of at least one port connected to at least one host bus adapter of the candidate node; means for sending the at least one port address and an address of the at least one host bus adapter from the candidate node to the cluster database server to update cluster configuration database concerning the cluster maintained by the cluster database server; means for requesting membership in the cluster by the candidate node; means for monitor changes in the multicast cluster database server address, the incarnation number and the database generation identifier, wherein the changes indicating the candidate node is to request a new cluster configuration data and update cluster configuration data; means for reconfigure the cluster file system and a kernel based on the new cluster configuration and update of the cluster configuration data. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification