Method and apparatus for automatic configuration of a cluster of computers

1. A method for configuring a plurality of network interfaces coupling a plurality of computers, comprising:

receiving a request at a computer of the plurality of computers to configure the plurality of computers into a cluster of computers, wherein the cluster of computers function in concert as a single unit;

establishing at the computer whether a network interface of the plurality of network interfaces is one of private and public, wherein a private network interface is used for intercommunications within the cluster of computers and a public network interface is used for communications with a client computer;

determining a connectivity among the plurality of computers;

calculating a configuration for the cluster of computers; and

installing the cluster of computers using the configuration.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein establishing whether the network interface is one of private and public includes:

sending a ping message on the network interface;

receiving a plurality of responses to the ping message on the network interface;

sending a router discovery message on the network interface;

listening on the network interface for a response to the router discovery message; and

classifying the network interface as public or private based on responses received, wherein the network interface is classified as private if a number of responses to the ping message is less than or equal to a number of computers in the cluster and if no response was received from the router discovery message, otherwise classifying the network interface as public.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the connectivity among the plurality of computers includes:

sending a message on the network interface, wherein the message identifies a sending computer and the network interface;

listening for a response to the message on the network interface; and

creating a data structure containing a matrix of responses received for the network interface.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein sending the message includes using a data link provider interface (DLPI).

5. The method of claim 3 , wherein calculating the configuration for the cluster of computers includes:

requesting the matrix from each computer in the plurality of computers;

combining the matrix from each computer into a master matrix;

examining the master matrix for a pair of computers with at least two private network interfaces; and

adding the pair of computers to the cluster of computers.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

presenting the configuration to an administrator; and

allowing the administrator to edit the configuration.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein presenting the configuration to the administrator includes one of displaying the configuration on a web browser and displaying the configuration on a text-based display screen.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein allowing the administrator to edit the configuration includes:

accepting a change to the configuration from the administrator;

verifying that the change to the configuration does not violate an established rule for the configuration; and

if the change to the configuration is valid, incorporating the change into the configuration.

9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising passing the configuration to a configuration program for configuration of the cluster.

10. A computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that when executed by a computing device causes the computing device to perform a method for configuring a plurality of network interfaces coupling a plurality of computers, the method comprising:

receiving a request at a computer of the plurality of computers to configure the plurality of computers into a cluster of computers, wherein the cluster of computers function in concert as a single unit;

establishing at the computer whether a network interface of the plurality of network interfaces is one of private and public, wherein a private network interface is used for intercommunications within the cluster of computers and a public network interface is used for communications with a client computer;

determining a connectivity among the plurality of computers;

calculating a configuration for the cluster of computers; and

installing the cluster of computers using the configuration.

11. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 10 , wherein establishing whether the network interface is one of private and public includes:

sending a ping message on the network interface;

receiving a plurality of responses to the ping message on the network interface;

sending a router discovery message on the network interface;

listening on the network interface for a response to the router discovery message; and

classifying the network interface as public or private based on responses received, wherein the network interface is classified as private if a number of responses to the ping message is less than or equal to a number of computers in the cluster and if no response was received from the router discovery message, otherwise classifying the network interface as public.

12. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 10 , wherein determining the connectivity among the plurality of computers includes:

sending a message on the network interface, wherein the message identifies a sending computer and the network interface;

listening for a response to the message on the network interface; and

creating a data structure containing a matrix of responses received for the network interface.

13. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 12 , wherein sending the message includes using a data link provider interface (DLPI).

14. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 12 , wherein calculating the configuration for the cluster of computers includes:

requesting the matrix from each computer in the plurality of computers;

combining the matrix from each computer into a master matrix;

examining the master matrix for a pair of computers with at least two private network interfaces; and

adding the pair of computers to the cluster of computers.

15. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 10 , the method further comprising:

presenting the configuration to an administrator; and

allowing the administrator to edit the configuration.

16. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 15 , wherein presenting the configuration to the administrator includes one of displaying the configuration on a web browser and displaying the configuration on a text-based display screen.

17. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 16 , wherein allowing the administrator to edit the configuration includes:

accepting a change to the configuration from the administrator;

verifying that the change to the configuration does not violate an established rule for the configuration; and

if the change to the configuration is valid, incorporating the change into the configuration.

18. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 17 , wherein the method further comprises passing the configuration to a configuration program for configuration of the cluster.

19. An apparatus that facilitates configuring a plurality of network interfaces coupling a plurality of computers, comprising:

a receiving mechanism configured to receive a request at a computer of the plurality of computers to configure the plurality of computers into a cluster of computers, wherein the cluster of computers function in concert as a single unit;

an establishing mechanism configured to establish at the computer whether a network interface of the plurality of network interfaces is one of private and public, wherein a private network interface is used for intercommunications within the cluster of computers and a public network interface is used for communications with a client computer;

a determining mechanism configured to determine a connectivity among the plurality of computers;

a calculating mechanism configured to calculate a configuration for the cluster of computers; and

an installing mechanism configured to install the cluster of computers using the configuration.

20. The apparatus of claim 19 , further comprising:

a sending mechanism configured to send a ping message on the network interface;

a listening mechanism configured to receive a plurality of responses to the ping message on the network interface;

wherein the sending mechanism is further configured to send a router discovery message on the network interface;

wherein the listening mechanism is further configured to receive a response to the router discovery message on the network interface; and

a classifying mechanism that is configured to classify the network interface as public or private based on responses received, wherein the network interface is classified as private if a number of responses to the ping message is less than or equal to a number of computers in the cluster and if no response was received from the router discovery message, otherwise classifying the network interface as public.

21. The apparatus of claim 19 , further comprising:

a sending mechanism that is configured to send a message on the network interface, wherein the message identifies a sending computer and the network interface;

a listening mechanism that is configured to receive a response to the message on the network interface; and

a creating mechanism that is configured to create a data structure containing a matrix of responses received for the network interface.

22. The apparatus of claim 21 , wherein the sending mechanism is configured to use a data link provider interface (DLPI).

23. The apparatus of claim 21 , further comprising:

a requesting mechanism that is configured to request the matrix from each computer in the plurality of computers;

a combining mechanism that is configured to combine the matrix from each computer into a master matrix;

an examining mechanism that is configured to examine the master matrix for a pair of computers with at least two private network interfaces; and

an adding mechanism that is configured to add the pair of computers to the cluster of computers.

24. The apparatus of claim 19 , further comprising:

a presentation mechanism configured to present the configuration to an administrator; and

an editing mechanism configured to allow the administrator to edit the configuration.

25. The apparatus of claim 24 , wherein the presentation mechanism is configured to present the configuration to the administrator by one of displaying the configuration on a web browser and displaying the configuration on a text-based display screen.

26. The apparatus of claim 25 , further comprising:

an accepting mechanism that is configured to accept a change to the configuration from the administrator;

a verifying mechanism that is configured to verify that the change to the configuration does not violate an established rule for the configuration; and

an incorporating mechanism that is configured to incorporate the change into the configuration, if the change to the configuration is valid.

27. The apparatus of claim 26 , further comprising a passing mechanism configured to pass the configuration to a configuration program for configuration of the cluster.