Method to dynamically change cluster or distributed system configuration

A computer readable storage medium storing instructions that, when read and executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform a method for dynamically changing the system configuration of a distributed computer system while retaining overall system functionality, the system including a plurality of components further including a plurality of nodes, the method comprising the steps of:

• for each one of the plurality of nodes, storing system configuration data on at least one storage device accessible by the node and every other node of the plurality of nodes in the distributed computer system;
• initiating a command to effect a system configuration change whereby at least one attribute of at least one component is changed by a first node of the distributed computer system, wherein the first node operates to change the system configuration data by accessing the at least one storage device to change the at least one attribute of the at least one component;
• notifying a second node of the distributed computer system of a system configuration change;
• accessing the system configuration data, by a second node of the plurality of nodes in the distributed computer system, to initiate, changing only the at least one attribute of the at least one system component affected by the system configuration change;
• and
• wherein the first and second nodes are not the same node.

Apparatus for dynamically changing the system configuration of a distributed computer system while retaining overall system functionality, the system including a plurality of components further including a plurality of nodes, the apparatus comprising:

• system configuration data stored on at least one storage device accessible by each one of the plurality of nodes;
• at least one component having at least one attribute to be changed by a system configuration change;
• and
• a program for:
• initiating a command to effect a system configuration change, whereby at least one attribute of at least one component is changed by a first node of the distributed computer system, wherein the first node operates to change the system configuration data by accessing the at least one storage device to change the at least one attribute of the at least one component;
• accessing the system configuration data, by a second node of the plurality of nodes in the distributed computer system, to initiate changing only the at least one attribute of the at least one system component affected by the system configuration change:
• and
• wherein the first and second nodes are not the same node.

A method for changing system configuration of a cluster of computing systems, the cluster computing system including a plurality of nodes, the method comprising:

• storing system configuration data for the cluster in a cluster configuration repository, wherein the cluster configuration repository is stored on a storage device that is directly accessible by each one the plurality of nodes in the cluster;
• accessing the cluster configuration repository stored on the storage device by a first node of the plurality of nodes in response to a need for a system configuration change, wherein the first node directly accesses the storage device in order to access the cluster configuration repository;
• modifying the cluster configuration repository by the first node after accessing the cluster configuration repository by the first node;
• notifying two or more other nodes of the plurality of nodes of a system configuration change;
• accessing the cluster configuration repository stored on the storage device by the two or more other nodes when the two or more other nodes have been notified, wherein the two or more other nodes directly access the storage device in order to access the cluster configuration repository;
• and
• initiating, by the two or more other nodes, one or more actions needed to implement changes after the accessing of the cluster configuration repository.