Highly available cluster message passing facility

a cluster message and cluster technology, applied in the field of distributed computing systems, can solve the problems of inability to support a volume manager layered either above or below the storage device, inability to guarantee a consistent virtual disk mapping, and inability to ensure the reliability of the system

Inactive Publication Date: 2001-10-18
SUN MICROSYSTEMS INC
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

Unfortunately, conventional virtual disk systems do not guarantee a consistent virtual disk mapping.
Conventional virtual disk systems cannot support a volume manager layered either ab

Method used

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  • Highly available cluster message passing facility
  • Highly available cluster message passing facility
  • Highly available cluster message passing facility

Examples

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Embodiment Construction

[0034] Turning now FIG. 1, a block diagram of a cluster configuration according to one embodiment of the present invention is shown. Cluster 100 includes a data communication link 102, three nodes 104A-104C, and three storage devices 108, 110 and 112. Data communication link 102 provides a data communication path for transferring data between the nodes. Data communication link 102 contemplates a multi-drop link or point-to-point links. For example, data communication link 102 may include three point-to-point links. A first link may provide a communication path between nodes 104A and 104B, a second link may provide a communication path between nodes 104A and 104C, and a third link may provide a communication path between nodes 104B and 104C. In one embodiment, data communication link 102 implements a scalable coherent interface (SCI). In one particular embodiment, the cluster implements a TCP / IP protocol for transferring data over the SCI. It is noted that three nodes are shown for i...

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Abstract

A cluster implements a virtual disk system that provides each node of the cluster access to each storage device of the cluster. The virtual disk system provides high availability such that a storage device may be accessed and data access requests are reliably completed even in the presence of a failure. To ensure consistent mapping and file permission data among the nodes, data are stored in a highly available cluster database. Because the cluster database provides consistent data to the nodes even in the presence of a failure, each node will have consistent mapping and file permission data. A cluster transport interface is provided that establishes links between the nodes and manages the links. Messages received by the cluster transports interface are conveyed to the destination node via one or more links. The configuration of a cluster may be modified during operation. Prior to modifying the configuration, a reconfiguration procedure suspends data access requests and waits for pending data access requests to complete. The reconfiguration is performed and the mapping is modified to reflect the new configuration. The node then updates the internal representation of the mapping and resumes issuing data access requests.

Description

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention[0002] This invention relates to the field of distributed computing systems and, more particularly, to distributed virtual storage devices.[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art[0004] Distributed computing systems, such as clusters, may include two or more nodes, which may be employed to perform a computing task. Generally speaking, a node is a group of circuitry designed to perform one or more computing tasks. A node may include one or more processors, a memory and interface circuitry. Generally speaking, a cluster is a group of two or more nodes that have the capability of exchanging data between nodes. A particular computing task may be performed upon one node, while other nodes perform unrelated computing tasks. Alternatively, components of a particular computing task may be distributed among the nodes to decrease the time required perform the computing task as a whole. Generally speaking, a processor is a device configured to perform an operati...

Claims

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Application Information

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IPC IPC(8): G06F11/14
CPCG06F11/142
Inventor SLAUGHTER, GREGORY L.HERNDON, ROBERT
Owner SUN MICROSYSTEMS INC
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