Master-Slave Heartbeat Mechanism for Cluster Fault Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing fault-tolerant cluster service technologies face challenges in efficiently detecting node failures and reducing network burden, with existing methods either being superficial or not supporting distributed structures effectively.

Innovation Solution

A method for providing fault-tolerant application cluster service that classifies nodes into a master node and slave nodes, where the master node sends periodic heartbeats, allowing for efficient detection and replacement of failed nodes, thereby simplifying detection processes and reducing network burden.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If all nodes send periodic heartbeats to notify other nodes of their status, then node failure detection capability is improved, but network burden increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenode failure detection capabilityVSAvoidnetwork burden

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the heartbeat communication function by designating one specific node as the 'heartbeat sending node' while other nodes act as 'heartbeat receiving nodes'. This segmentation eliminates redundant heartbeat transmissions from all nodes while maintaining comprehensive failure detection capability, directly resolving the contradiction between detection reliability and network burden.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Measurement precision

If multiple communication channels are used for heartbeat validation, then fault detection accuracy is improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefault detection accuracyVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of having multiple nodes send heartbeats through multiple channels to validate status, the patent inverts the approach by having a single designated node send heartbeats through a single primary channel. This inversion simplifies the system architecture while maintaining effective fault detection through the centralized heartbeat mechanism.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Reliability

If 1:1 backup support is provided for each member, then fault tolerance is improved, but resource consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefault toleranceVSAvoidresource consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a universal fault tolerance mechanism where a single heartbeat sending node serves the entire cluster environment. This multi-functional approach allows one node to provide fault detection and tolerance capabilities for all other nodes, eliminating the need for dedicated 1:1 backup pairs and significantly reducing resource consumption while maintaining system reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS7457236B2Method for providing fault-tolerant application cluster service

Publication Date: 2008.11.25 NAT CHENG KUNG UNIV

AI summary

A method for providing an application cluster service (APCS) with fault-detection and failure-recovery capabilities. This method is composed of the steps of nodes clustering, invoking and detecting applications, fault-recovery of applications, detection of nodes, and node replacement. This method is applicable in a clustered environment to detect if a slave node is failed by sending a heartbeat periodically from a master node; and to detect if the master node still exists by checking if the master node stops sending the heartbeat (i.e. the master node may be failed).