Computer Cluster Policy Segmentation for Platform-Agnostic High Availability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing policy technologies in computer cluster environments are unable to configure platform-agnostic policies and incorporate rolling upgrades or patches, leading to inefficiencies and negative impacts on user experience, particularly in handling software bugs and dependencies between applications.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for creating and implementing computer cluster policies that identify dependent applications and platform-agnostic actions, enabling high-availability software to execute platform-specific commands in response to events, while allowing for rolling upgrades and patches without affecting other modules.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If existing policy technologies are used to control actions affecting application performance in computer cluster environments, then fault handling capability is provided, but the system cannot configure platform-agnostic policies and cannot incorporate rolling upgrades or patches
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the policy system into distinct modules: policy definition module, policy storage module, and policy execution module. This segmentation allows the policy to be defined independently of the platform, stored in a standardized format, and executed by different high-availability software types, thereby enabling platform-agnostic implementation while managing complexity through modular design.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal policy structure that can be implemented across different types of high-availability software (e.g., Veritas Cluster Server, Microsoft Cluster Server, Linux Virtual Server). The policy uses platform-independent elements such as application identifiers, dependency relationships, and standardized actions that can be interpreted by multiple high-availability software platforms, achieving multi-functionality and broad adaptability.
2Reliability
If existing policy technologies are used to handle faults in computer cluster environments, then basic fault response is achieved, but rolling upgrades and patches cannot be incorporated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic policy system where policies can be modified, upgraded, and patched without requiring system shutdown or affecting running applications. The policy storage module maintains current policies, and the execution module can load and apply updated policies in real-time, enabling rolling upgrades and continuous operation while maintaining fault handling reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates preliminary validation and testing mechanisms that allow policy upgrades and patches to be prepared and verified before being applied to the production environment. This preliminary action ensures that reliability is maintained during transitions, as potential issues can be detected and resolved before affecting actual fault handling operations.
3Productivity
If platform-specific commands are used to perform actions on dependent applications, then specific actions can be executed, but the policy cannot be implemented across different high-availability software types
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary layer consisting of the policy storage module and policy execution module that translates platform-agnostic policy definitions into platform-specific commands. This intermediary interprets the standardized policy elements and generates the appropriate specific commands for the underlying high-availability software, maintaining both execution efficiency and platform compatibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes parameter changes to adapt the same policy structure to different platforms. By varying the interpretation of policy parameters based on the target platform, the system can execute the same logical policy across different high-availability software types with different command structures and execution environments, maintaining productivity while achieving versatility.
Data Source
AI summary
A computer-implemented method for providing computer cluster policies for implementation in computer cluster environments may include (1) identifying a computer cluster environment capable of executing a plurality of applications, (2) creating a computer cluster policy that (a) identifies, within the plurality of applications, at least one dependent application that is dependent upon at least one other application and (b) identifying at least one platform-agnostic action to be performed on the dependent application in response to detection of at least one event associated with the other application, and then (3) providing the computer cluster policy to high-availability software installed in the computer cluster environment to enable the high-availability software to implement the computer cluster policy in the computer cluster environment. Various other systems, methods, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.