System and method for determining cluster membership in a heterogeneous distributed system

A method for determining membership of nodes in a cluster in a distributed computer system, the method comprising:

• assigning a weighting value to each of the nodes;
• determining with which other nodes each node is in communication;
• determining alternatives for a proposed membership list for each node based on said determining with which nodes each node is in communication and the weighting values assigned to each of the nodes;
• adding the weighting factors of nodes involved in each alternative for the proposed membership list for each node to arrive at a sum for each alternative for the proposed membership list for each node;
• choosing a preferred alternative for the proposed membership list from the alternatives for the proposed membership list, wherein the preferred alternative for the proposed membership list has the sum that is a maximum value.

A method for determining membership of nodes in a distributed computer system, the method comprising:

• assigning a weighting value to each of the nodes;
• determining with which other nodes a selected node is in communication;
• broadcasting to the other nodes communication data specifying the other nodes with which the selected node is in communication;
• receiving the communication data specifying the other nodes with which the selected node is in communication;
• determining a proposed membership list based on the communication data specifying the other nodes with which the selected node is in communication and the weighting values assigned to each of the nodes;
• broadcasting the proposed membership list to the other nodes with which the selected node is in communication;
• receiving the proposed membership lists from each of the other nodes with which the selected node is in communication;
• and
• determining an elected membership list from the proposed membership lists.

A distributed computer system, comprising:

• one or more communications networks;
• a plurality of computers each configurable as a cluster node, wherein the plurality of computers are coupled to the one or more communications networks, wherein each of the plurality of computers is assigned a weighting value;
• and
• cluster management software running on the plurality of computers, wherein said cluster management software establishes cluster membership, wherein the clustering software is configured to:
• assign a weighting value to each of various ones of the plurality of computers;
• group a first subset of said various ones into a first possible cluster configuration;
• group a second subset of said various ones into a second possible cluster configuration;
• combine the weighting values of the first subset to calculate a first value;
• combine the weighting values of the second subset to calculate a second value;
• and
• choose either said first subset or said second subset for membership in said cluster depending upon a result of said first value of said first possible cluster configuration and said second value of said second possible cluster configuration.

A distributed computer system, comprising:

• one or more communications networks;
• a plurality of computers each configurable as a cluster node, wherein the plurality of computers are coupled to the one or more communications networks, wherein each of the plurality of computers is assigned a weighting value;
• and
• cluster management software running on the plurality of computers to configure various ones of the plurality of computers into a cluster, wherein the clustering software is configured to:
• determine with which other nodes a selected node is in communication;
• broadcast to the other nodes communication data specifying the other nodes with which the selected node is in communication;
• receive the communication data specifying the other nodes with which the selected node is in communication;
• determine a proposed membership list based on the communication data specifying the other nodes with which the selected node is in communication and the weighting values assigned to each of the nodes;
• broadcast the proposed membership list to the other nodes with which the selected node is in communication;
• receive the proposed membership lists from each of the other nodes with which the selected node is in communication;
• and
• determine an elected membership list from the proposed membership lists.

A distributed computer system that determines which nodes are member of a cluster, comprising:

• means for assigning a weighting value to each of the nodes;
• means for grouping a first subset of said nodes into a first possible cluster configuration;
• means for grouping a second subset of said nodes into a second possible cluster configuration;
• means for combining the weighting values of the first subset of said nodes to calculate a first value;
• means for combining the weighting values of the second subset of said nodes to calculate a second value;
• and
• means for choosing either said first subset or said second subset for membership in said cluster depending upon a result of said first value of said first possible cluster configuration and said second value of said second possible cluster configuration.

A distributed computer system that determines which nodes are members of a cluster, comprising:

• means for assigning a weighting value to each of the nodes;
• means for determining with which other nodes a selected node is in communication;
• means for broadcasting to the other nodes communication data specifying the other nodes with which the selected node is in communication;
• means for receiving the communication data specifying the other nodes with which the selected node is in communication;
• means for determining a proposed membership list based on the communication data specifying the other nodes with which the selected node is in communication and the weighting values assigned to each of the nodes;
• means for broadcasting the proposed membership list to the other nodes with which the selected node is in communication;
• means for receiving the proposed membership lists from each of the other nodes with which the selected node is in communication;
• and
• means for determining an elected membership list from the proposed membership lists.

A storage medium configured to store instructions that determine membership of nodes in a cluster in a distributed computer system, said instructions comprising:

• assigning a weighting value to each of the nodes;
• grouping a first subset of said nodes into a first possible cluster configuration;
• grouping a second subset of said nodes into a second possible cluster configuration;
• combining the weighting values of the first subset of said nodes to calculate a first value;
• combining the weighting values of the second subset of said nodes to calculate a second value;
• and
• choosing either said first subset or said second subset for membership in said cluster depending upon a result of said first value of said first possible cluster configuration and said second value of said second possible cluster configuration.