US6038677A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Automatic resource group formation and maintenance in a high availability cluster configuration
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
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Filing: 1997-03-31
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Granted: 2000-03-14
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Expires: 2017-03-31
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus that automatically generates and maintains resource groups for a clustered computer network configuration. Resource groups are said to be generated "automatically" because the system administrator preferably is not directly involved with defining what resources go within a particular group. Rather, the administrator merely identifies a set of resources that must be collocated with a given application in the event of a failure of a computer on which the application is then executing. One or more resource groups are then automatically generated using a set of collocation "constraints" or rules. A first collocation constraint preferably enforces any user-defined collocations for a given application, and a second constraint collocates disk partition resources residing on the same physical disk. A resource group generated is this manner ensures effective fault-tolerant operation.
Inventors
- 👤 Francis D. Lawlor
- 👤 James Wendell Arendt
- 👤 Hovey Raymond Strong
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 07:57
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F9/00; G06F9/06; G06F9/46; G06F9/50; G06F9/5005; G06F9/5011; G06F9/5016; G06F11/00; G06F11/07; G06F11/14; G06F11/1402; G06F11/1415; G06F11/142; G06F11/16; G06F11/20
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
112 words
A method of using cluster-wide resources in a computer network having a plurality of nodes to provide uninterrupted processing of software applications, comprising the steps of: for each of a plurality of applications whose processing is to be uninterrupted, having a user identify a set of resources that must be collocated with each such application in the event of a failure of a computer on which the application is then executing; automatically generating one or more resource groups, each of which includes one or more of the plurality of applications and their related resources; and upon a given occurrence, transferring control of the resources of a resource group to a backup computer.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
112 words
A method of using cluster-wide resources in a computer network having a plurality of nodes to provide uninterrupted processing of software applications, comprising the steps of: for each of a plurality of applications whose processing is to be uninterrupted, having a user identify a set of resources that must be collocated with each such application in the event of a failure of a computer on which the application is then executing; automatically generating one or more resource groups, each of which includes one or more of the plurality of applications and their related resources; and upon a given occurrence, transferring control of the resources of a resource group to a backup computer.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method as described in claim 1 wherein the set of resources includes resources selected from the group consisting of applications, IP addresses and disk partitions.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
57 words
The method as described in claim 1 wherein the step of automatically generating one or more resource groups computationally assigns each resource to a resource group in a predetermined manner such that the resource groups are as small as possible and each set of resources required to be collocated is completely contained within a given resource group.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method as described in claim 1 wherein the step of automatically generating one or more resource groups includes enforcing a set of collocation constraints.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method as described in claim 4 wherein the collocation constraints include user-defined collocations for a given application.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method as described in claim 4 wherein the collocation constraints collocate disk partition resources residing on a physical disk.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
100 words
A method of configuring cluster-wide resources in a computer network having a plurality of nodes to facilitate uninterrupted processing of software applications, comprising the steps of: for each of a plurality of applications whose processing is to be uninterrupted, having a user identify a set of resources that must be collocated with each such application in the event of a failure of a computer on which the application is then executing; and automatically generating one or more resource groups, each of the one or more resource groups comprising one or more of the plurality of applications and their related resources.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
100 words
A method of configuring cluster-wide resources in a computer network having a plurality of nodes to facilitate uninterrupted processing of software applications, comprising the steps of: for each of a plurality of applications whose processing is to be uninterrupted, having a user identify a set of resources that must be collocated with each such application in the event of a failure of a computer on which the application is then executing; and automatically generating one or more resource groups, each of the one or more resource groups comprising one or more of the plurality of applications and their related resources.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method as described in claim 7 wherein the set of resources includes resources selected from the group consisting of applications, IP addresses and disk partitions.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method as described in claim 7 wherein the step of automatically generating one or more resource groups includes enforcing a set of collocation constraints.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method as described in claim 9 wherein the collocation constraints include user-defined collocations for a given application.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method as described in claim 9 wherein the collocation constraints collocate disk partition resources residing on a physical disk.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
122 words
A method of managing cluster-wide resources in a computer network having a plurality of nodes to facilitate uninterrupted processing of software applications, comprising the steps of: for each of a plurality of applications whose processing is to be uninterrupted, having a user identify a set of resources that must be collocated with each such application in the event of a failure of a computer on which the application is then executing; automatically generating one or more resource groups, each of which includes one or more of the plurality of applications and their related resources; in response to any reconfiguration of a cluster-wide resource, evaluating whether the reconfiguration impacts any resource group; and if the reconfiguration impacts any resource group, notifying the user.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
122 words
A method of managing cluster-wide resources in a computer network having a plurality of nodes to facilitate uninterrupted processing of software applications, comprising the steps of: for each of a plurality of applications whose processing is to be uninterrupted, having a user identify a set of resources that must be collocated with each such application in the event of a failure of a computer on which the application is then executing; automatically generating one or more resource groups, each of which includes one or more of the plurality of applications and their related resources; in response to any reconfiguration of a cluster-wide resource, evaluating whether the reconfiguration impacts any resource group; and if the reconfiguration impacts any resource group, notifying the user.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method as described in claim 12 wherein the notifying step provides the user with information indicating how the resource group is impacted.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method as described in claim 12 wherein the set of resources includes resources selected from the group consisting of applications, IP addresses and disk partitions.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
84 words
A computer program product in a computer-readable medium for use in a data processing system to manage cluster-wide resources in a computer network, comprising: first program data means responsive to user input for identifying a set of resources that must be collocated with an application in the event of a failure of a computer on which the application is then executing; and second program data means responsive to the user input and a set of collocation constraints for generating one or more resource groups.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
84 words
A computer program product in a computer-readable medium for use in a data processing system to manage cluster-wide resources in a computer network, comprising: first program data means responsive to user input for identifying a set of resources that must be collocated with an application in the event of a failure of a computer on which the application is then executing; and second program data means responsive to the user input and a set of collocation constraints for generating one or more resource groups.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
21 words
The computer program product as in claim 15 wherein the second program data means implements user-defined collocations for a given application.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
23 words
The computer program product as in claim 15 wherein the second program data means collocates disk partition resources residing on a physical disk.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
113 words
In a computer network having a primary computer and a backup computer, a method of using cluster-wide resources to provide uninterrupted processing of software applications, comprising the steps of: for each of a plurality of applications whose processing is to be uninterrupted, having a user identify a set of resources that must be collocated with each such application in the event of a failure of the primary computer; automatically generating one or more resource groups, each of which includes one or more of the plurality of applications and their related resources; and upon a given occurrence at the primary computer, transferring control of the resources of a resource group to the backup computer.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
113 words
In a computer network having a primary computer and a backup computer, a method of using cluster-wide resources to provide uninterrupted processing of software applications, comprising the steps of: for each of a plurality of applications whose processing is to be uninterrupted, having a user identify a set of resources that must be collocated with each such application in the event of a failure of the primary computer; automatically generating one or more resource groups, each of which includes one or more of the plurality of applications and their related resources; and upon a given occurrence at the primary computer, transferring control of the resources of a resource group to the backup computer.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-03-14 | 2003-09-13 | 2004-03-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-03-14 | 2007-09-13 | 2008-03-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-03-14 | 2011-09-13 | 2012-03-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |