Distributed computer system with network and resource status monitoring

In a distributed data processing system having a plurality of interconnected nodes with each node comprising a configuration manager and a network interface module, said system having a process and a resource at the same or separate nodes, said process communicating by means of messages, a method by which said process monitors the status of said resource comprising the steps of:

• submitting a monitoring request from said process to the configuration manager in the node containing said resource requesting the status of said resource, said request comprising the name or identification number of said resource and a reply option directing one of an immediate reply and a synchronized reply;
• establishing a file in memory by means of said configuration manager receiving said monitoring request;
• sending to said configuration manager a report from said network interface module of status change of a node;
• searching said file to determine if said resource being monitored resided on said node;
• and
• reporting said status change of said resource to said process if said resource resides on said node.

In a distributed data processing system having a plurality of interconnected nodes with each node comprising a configuration manager and a network interface module, said system comprising a process, said process communicating by means of messages, a method by which said process monitors the status of a node comprising the steps of:

• submitting a monitoring request to said configuration manager from said process requesting the status of said node;
• establishing a record in memory by means of said configuration manager which received said monitoring request;
• receiving a report from said network interface module of a status change of said node;
• and
• reporting said status change of said node to said process by means of said configuration manager.

In a distributed data processing system having a plurality of interconnected nodes with each node comprising a configuration manager and a network interface module, said system having a process and a resource at the same or separate nodes, said process communicating by means of messages, a method by which said process monitors the status of said resource comprising the steps of:

• sending a request message from said process to the node containing said resource, said message requesting said node to monitor said resource;
• communicating said request message in said system through a logical communication ring if said request message contains a resource connector and said resource is remote from the node containing said process;
• sending a message to said process indicating a bad request if said request message contains a resource connector and said resource is not a remote resource and said resource is not a valid local resource;
• establishing a request record in memory does not contain a resource connector or if said resource is a valid local resource;
• establishing a request record in memory for a node having a nodename if said request message is anode status request comprising said nodename;
• deleting from memory the request record for said resource if said request message is a request to cancel monitoring of said resource;
• and
• sending a reply to said process from said configuration manager if said request message specifies a reply.

In a distributed data processing system having a plurality of interconnected nodes with each node comprising a configuration manager and a network interface module, said system having a process and a resource handles the reply to its request for the status of said resource comprising the steps of:

• receiving a status message from the configuration manager at the node containing said resource;
• exiting said process if said status message contains an illegal node status notification;
• determining a new status rom said status message if said status message refers to a valid resource definition;
• generating a node startup message if said new status indicates a first connection of a node after node startup;
• circulating said status message in a logical communication ring of said system;
• notify each process having a matching status request record on said process's configuration manager;
• storing said new status code in said matching status request record if said matching status request record is retained;
• and
• updating a list of status request records if said status message indicates a connection or a disconnection of a node in said system;

In a distributed data processing system having a plurality of interconnected nodes with each node comprising a configuration manager and a network interface module, said system having a process and a resource at the same or separate nodes, said process communicating by means of messages, a method by which a service process circulates a status message in said system by means of logical communication ring comprising the steps of:

• receiving a status message from the configuration manager at the node containing said resource;
• releasing said status message if said logical communication ring is broken or if said message is from a remote node and said message was in said logical communication ring and said logical communication ring has not been completed;
• recirculating said status message if a previous ring was lost due to node death;
• starting said status message in said logical communication ring if said status message has not been released or recirculated and said logical communication ring has not been completed;
• inserting a host identification and host nodename and forwarding said status message in said logical communication ring if said status message has not been released or recirculated and said status message reports a new node connection;
• forwarding said status message in said logical communication ring if said status message has not been released or recirculated and said status message does not report a new node connection;
• notifying each process having a matching status request record and updating a list of status request records if said logical ring has been completed and there is a new node connection is said system;
• notifying said system of a new master node status if said logical ring has been completed, a new node connection in said system is reported, and said status message does not contain a host identification;
• and
• releasing said message following said steps of notifying each process or notifying said system of a new master node status.