Methods, systems and computer readable media for self-replicating cluster appliances

1. A method for self-replicating cluster appliances, the method comprising:

at a controller node configured for controlling a cluster of one or more network testing and/or visibility nodes:

receiving, during an authentication process, node information associated with a first computing node that is not a member of the cluster, wherein the first computing node includes a preconfigured operating system, wherein the authentication process is initiated after the first computing node is connected to the controller node via a physical cable and after the first computing node sends a dynamic host configuration protocol (DHCP) request message for requesting an IP address;

determining, using the node information, an operating system image for configuring the first computing node to be a member of the cluster; and

providing, via a communications interface, the operating system image to the first computing node; and

at the first computing node:

receiving the operating system image; and

performing, using the operating system image, a hot-boot to configure the first computing node to be a member of the cluster as a worker node controllable by the controller node and to provide at least one network testing or visibility service via at least one pod in the cluster.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein using operating system image to configure the first computing node includes rebooting the first computing node in response to receiving a reboot command from the controller node via an intelligent platform management interface.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one pod includes one or more containers.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the authentication process is associated with determining that the first computing node is authorized to receive the operating system image.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the node information includes processing blade information, load module information, chassis information, and/or loaded software information.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the operating system image includes a cluster configuration agent, a container operating system, a kernel, or a filesystem.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the controller node is a Kubernetes master node and the first computing node is a Kubernetes worker node.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the first computing node stores a first operating system in a read-only memory, wherein the first operating system unpacks a second operating system in a read and write allowed memory and loads the second operating system capable of providing the at least one network testing or visibility service.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the controller node supports resource reservations or resource contention arbitration associated with the cluster.

10. A system for self-replicating cluster appliances, the system comprising:

at least one processor;

a memory;

a controller node implemented using the at least one processor and the memory, wherein the controller node is configured for controlling a cluster of one or more network testing and/or visibility nodes, wherein the controller node is further configured for:

receiving, during an authentication process, node information associated with a first computing node that is not a member of the cluster, wherein the first computing node includes a preconfigured operating system, wherein the authentication process is initiated after the first computing node is connected to the controller node via a physical cable and after the first computing node sends a dynamic host configuration protocol (DHCP) request message for requesting an IP address;

determining, using the node information, an operating system image for configuring the first computing node to be a member of the cluster; and

providing, via a communications interface, the operating system image to the first computing node; and

the first computing node, wherein the first computing node is configured for:

receiving the operating system image; and

performing, using the operating system image, a hot-boot to configure the first computing node to be a member of the cluster as a worker node controllable by the controller node and to provide at least one network testing or visibility service via at least one pod in the cluster.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein using operating system image to configure the first computing node includes rebooting the first computing node in response to receiving a reboot command from the controller node via an intelligent platform management interface.

12. The system of claim 10 wherein the at least one pod includes one or more containers.

13. The system of claim 10 wherein the controller node is communicatively coupled to the first computing node.

14. The system of claim 10 wherein the authentication process is associated with determining that the first computing node is authorized to receive the operating system image.

15. The system of claim 10 wherein the node information includes processing blade information, load module information, chassis information, and/or loaded software information.

16. The system of claim 10 wherein the operating system image includes a cluster configuration agent, a container operating system, a kernel, or a filesystem.

17. The system of claim 10 wherein the controller node is a Kubernetes master node and the first computing node is a Kubernetes worker node.

18. The system of claim 10 wherein the first computing node stores a first operating system in a read-only memory, wherein the first operating system unpacks a second operating system in a read and write allowed memory and loads the second operating system capable of providing the at least one network testing or visibility service.

19. The system of claim 10 wherein the controller node supports resource reservations or resource contention arbitration associated with the cluster.

20. A non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon executable instructions that when executed by at least one processor of at least one computer cause the at least one computer to perform steps comprising:

at a controller node configured for controlling a cluster of one or more network testing and/or visibility nodes:

receiving, during an authentication process, node information associated with a first computing node that is not a member of the cluster, wherein the first computing node includes a preconfigured operating system, wherein the authentication process is initiated after the first computing node is connected to the controller node via a physical cable and after the first computing node sends a dynamic host configuration protocol (DHCP) request message for requesting an IP address;

determining, using the node information, an operating system image for configuring the first computing node to be a member of the cluster; and

providing, via a communications interface, the operating system image to the first computing node; and

at the first computing node:

receiving the operating system image; and

performing, using the operating system image, a hot-boot to configure the first computing node to be a member of the cluster as a worker node controllable by the controller node and to provide at least one network testing or visibility service via at least one pod in the cluster.