US 2014/0156862 A1 · Clustering Support Across Geographical Boundaries

Abstract

An approach is presented that provides computer clustering support across geographical boundaries. Inter-node communications are managed in a cluster by having each node operate at the network device driver (NDD) level within the kernel. Multiple types of NDD are utilized (Ethernet, SAN, DISK etc.) to provide redundancy so that nodes can reliably exchange heartbeat. To align with this architecture, for remote nodes, a pseudo NDD is used over Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) based communication interface to work along side other NDDs. Thus, the same packet which is sprayed over the NDDs pertaining to local nodes can be sprayed over the TCPSOCK NDD interface for remote nodes. Nodes (local or remote) receive the same packet and reassemble and process it in the same manner.

Claims8

Dependent claims

A method to manage inter-node communications in a cluster, the method, implemented by an information handling system that is a node of the cluster, the method comprising:

creating, using a processor, a plurality of network device drivers (NDDs), wherein each of the NDDs corresponds to a node in the cluster, and wherein each of the NDDs is stored in a memory accessible by the processor;
including a Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) based interface in a first set of the created NDDs, wherein each of the first set of created NDDs correspond to a remote node included in the cluster;
and
including an existing interface in a second set of the created NDDs, wherein each of the second set of NDDs correspond to a local node included in the cluster.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application

13/741,337Filed 14 Jan 2013

Priority

4 Dec 2012

Published

5 Jun 2014

Term ends

Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification3 codes

H04L 69/16
Network arrangements, protocols or services independent of the application payload and not provided for in the other groups of this subclass:…
H04L 67/1001
In which an application is distributed across nodes in the network: for accessing one among a plurality of replicated servers
H04L
Digital communication

Clustering Support Across Geographical Boundaries

Life of this patent

Clustering Support Across Geographical Boundaries

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims8