IP Library Granted Patent US 8,001,222
Granted Patent B2
US 8,001,222 · App. 11/785,255 · Granted Aug 16, 2011

Clustered filesystem with membership version support

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,001,222
App. No.
11/785,255
Granted
Aug 16, 2011
Kind
B2
Abstract

A cluster of computer system nodes share direct read/write access to storage devices via a storage area network using a cluster filesystem. Version information about subsystems is acquired by a leader node when forming a cluster membership and distributed to all nodes in the cluster to enable proper messaging during operation.

Claims (32)

1. A method of establishing a new cluster membership of computer system nodes sharing direct read/write access to storage devices via a storage area network and a cluster operating system, comprising:

initiating a new membership protocol to establish a new cluster in response to a change in cluster membership;

transitioning a particular one of the nodes to a leader state, the particular one of the nodes becoming a leader node;

transitioning other nodes to a stable state;

establishing message channels between nodes;

sending probe message from the leader node to nodes in the stable state;

transitioning nodes in the stable state to a follower state upon receipt of the probe message;

sending replies from the nodes in the follower state to the leader node;

accumulated replies to the probe message at the leader node;

transmitting version information indicating version levels of functions for at least one subsystem of the cluster operating system from each node of a prospective membership to the leader node when establishing the nodes available for cluster membership;

transmitting the version information for all of the nodes with a proposed cluster membership from the leader node to all other nodes in the proposed cluster membership so that each node is aware of the version of functions operating on other nodes;

establishing the cluster to allow contact between all other nodes in response to transmitting the version information from the leader node.

2. A method as recited in claim 1 , further comprising communicating between the at least one subsystem on at least two computer system nodes based on the version information.

3. At least one non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing at least one program embodying a method of establishing a new cluster membership of computer system nodes sharing direct read/write access to storage devices via a storage area network and a cluster operating system, comprising:

initiating a new membership protocol to establish a new cluster in response to a change in cluster membership;

transitioning a particular one of the nodes to a leader state, the particular one of the nodes becoming a leader node;

transitioning other nodes to a stable state;

establishing message channels between nodes;

sending probe message from the leader node to nodes in the stable state;

transitioning nodes in the stable state to a follower state upon receipt of the probe message;

sending replies from the nodes in the follower state to the leader node;

accumulated replies to the probe message at the leader node;

transmitting version information indicating version levels of functions for at least one subsystem of the cluster operating system from each node of a prospective membership to the leader node when establishing the nodes available for cluster membership;

transmitting the version information for all of the nodes with a proposed cluster membership from the leader node to all other nodes in the proposed cluster membership so that each node is aware of the version of functions operating on other nodes;

establishing the cluster to allow contact between all other nodes in response to transmitting the version information from the leader node.

4. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 3 , further comprising:

communicating between nodes in accordance with the version information.

5. A cluster of computer systems, comprising:

storage devices storing at least one file;

a storage area network coupled to said storage devices;

computer system nodes, coupled to said storage area network, sharing direct read/write access to said storage devices, executing a cluster operating system having subsystems, initiating a new membership protocol to establish a new cluster in response to a change in cluster membership, transitioning a particular one of the nodes to a leader state, the particular one of the nodes becoming a leader node, transitioning other nodes to a stable state, establishing message channels between nodes, sending probe message from the leader node to nodes in the stable state, transitioning nodes in the stable state to a follower state upon receipt of the probe message, sending replies from the nodes in the follower state to the leader node, accumulated replies to the probe message at the leader node, transmitting version information indicating version levels of functions for at least one subsystem of the cluster operating system from each node of a prospective membership to the leader node when establishing the nodes available for cluster membership and transmitting the version information for all of the nodes with a proposed cluster membership from the leader node to all other nodes in the proposed cluster membership and establishing the cluster to allow contact between all other nodes in response to transmitting the version information from the leader node.

6. The cluster of claim 5 , wherein the computer system nodes communicate with each other in accordance with the version information.

Assignments (10)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 4, 2017
From: SILICON GRAPHICS INTERNATIONAL CORP.
To: HEWLETT PACKARD ENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT LP
Reel/Frame 044128/0149 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 2, 2016
From: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC., AS AGENT
To: SILICON GRAPHICS INTERNATIONAL CORP.
Reel/Frame 040545/0362 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 13, 2015
From: SILICON GRAPHICS INTERNATIONAL CORP.
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
Reel/Frame 035200/0722 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jul 8, 2014
From: SILICON GRAPHICS INTERNATIONAL, INC.
To: SGI INTERNATIONAL, INC.
Reel/Frame 033281/0972 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 8, 2014
From: SILICON GRAPHICS, INC.
To: SILICON GRAPHICS INTERNATIONAL, INC.
Reel/Frame 033267/0286 →
MERGER Recorded Jul 8, 2014
From: SGI INTERNATIONAL, INC.
To: SILICON GRAPHICS INTERNATIONAL CORP.
Reel/Frame 033267/0462 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 21, 2012
From: SILICON GRAPHICS, INC. ET AL.; SGI INTERNATIONAL, INC.
To: SILICON GRAPHICS INTERNATIONAL, CORP.
Reel/Frame 027904/0315 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Dec 16, 2008
From: SILICON GRAPHICS, INC.
To: MORGAN STANLEY & CO., INCORPORATED
Reel/Frame 021985/0269 →
RECORD TO CORRECT THE ADDRESS OF THE ASSIGNEE. CORRECT ADDRESS IS SILICON GRAPHICS, INC. 1140 E. ARQUES AVENUE, SUNNYVALE, CA 94085 Recorded Dec 4, 2007
From: BECK, KENNETH
To: SILICON GRAPHICS, INC.
Reel/Frame 020241/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 12, 2007
From: BECK, KENNETH
To: SILICON GRAPHICS, INC.
Reel/Frame 019840/0083 →