Hardware independent hierarchical cluster of heterogeneous media servers using a hierarchical command beat protocol to synchronize distributed parallel computing systems and employing a virtual dynamic network topology for distributed parallel computing system

A virtual network formed within a plurality of clusters of computer processing systems interconnected by a physical network to allow each computer processing system of the clusters of computer processing systems to transfer data between any of the plurality of computer processing systems, said virtual network comprising:

• a plurality of nodes, each node comprising at least one computer system cluster designated to be a member of said virtual network, each computer system cluster comprising at least one of said computer processing systems;
• a virtual multicast bus to provide communication between member nodes of said virtual network;
• and
• a configuration service apparatus in communication with each of the computer systems to provide each of the plurality of computer systems with:
• a neighbor's listing for each of said computer processing systems included in a member node of said virtual network, a separate neighbor's listing associated with any virtual network included within said a plurality of clusters;
• a node identification to identify a node for each member computer processing system within said cluster,
• a multicast bus address to broadcast communications to said member nodes of said virtual network by way of said virtual multicast bus, and
• a node priority list designating a priority for each member node within said virtual network;
• and
• a cluster supervising processor to provide operational control services for each of said member nodes, said cluster supervising processor being selected of said computer systems within said nodes according to the priority from said priority list.

A method for forming a virtual network within a plurality of clusters of computer processing systems interconnected by a physical network to allow each computer processing system of the clusters of computer processing systems to transfer data between any of the plurality of computer systems, said method for forming said virtual network comprising steps of:

• creating a plurality of nodes such that each node comprises at least one computer system cluster designated to be a member of said virtual network, each computer system cluster comprising at least one of said computer processing systems;
• providing communication between member nodes of said virtual network through a virtual multicast bus;
• and
• establishing a configuration service apparatus communicating with each of said computer systems;
• transferring from said configuration service apparatus to each of the plurality of computer processing systems:
• a neighbor's listing for each of said computer processing systems included in a member node of said virtual network, a separate neighbor's listing associated with any virtual network included within said a plurality of clusters;
• a node identification to identify a node for each member computer processing system within said cluster,
• a multicast bus address to broadcast communications to said member nodes of said virtual network by way of said virtual multicast bus, and
• a node priority list designating a priority for each member node within said virtual network;
• and
• selecting one of said computer systems within said nodes according to the priority from said priority list to be a cluster supervising processor to provide operational control services for each of said member nodes.