What is a cluster

[administrador]

Hi , we are new on this....

could you explain us what is used a cluster? and
what are configuration files?

Thanks.

[A. Clay Stephenson]

Go search on the term "MC/ServiceGuard"; essentially it is a fault-tolerant group of computers, disks, and network equipment. Clients connect not to the IP address of a dedicated server but rather to a virtual "package" IP address that can move from host to host.

[Patrick Wallek]

Have a look at the MC/ServiceGuard documentation here:

http://docs.hp.com/en/oshpux11iv2.html#Serviceguard

[Geoff Wild]

And for just an overall explanation on what a cluster is:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computer_cluster

Rgds...Geoff

[Steven E. Protter]

Shalom,

Adding to the salad parade.

If the chances of one computer failing in a year are .2%. The chances of two failing, all factors being equal should be .1%

On a basic level, thats what a cluster is. It takes advantage of more equipment to lower the chance of disrupting service to the users.

It provides high availability.

My web servers run in a cluster an managed to provide continuous, uninterupted service within that cluster for 140 days before a single point of failure, a router brought it all down for 10 minutes last week.

SEP

[Jan van den Ende]

Hi,

well, without further context this is equivalent to asking "How long does it take?"

About every implementor has his own definition, and often even more than one.

Look though Geoff's pointer to get a feel of what I mean.

About the loosest definition is to define the Internet as "a cluster". It is even looser as what was said (by DECcies) about the IBM term: "Anyhing that connects without blowing the fuses they consider a cluster."
About the strongest definition is the of VMScluster:
"Every storage is accessable from ANY of many (may be dozens) CPUs simultaniously, with synchronised locking preventing corruption. In nearly every respect the cluster is/can be considered a single system, with the freedom to add or remove nodes as convinient"

So, please, be somewhat more specific, and you probably will get more specific answers.

Proost.

Have one on me.

jpe

[Jan van den Ende]

Administrador,

I found another link that (I hope) may be interesting for you:

"Disaster Tolerant Unix: Removing the Last Single Point of Failure:"

http://h71000.www7.hp.com/openvms/whitepapers/Illuminata.pdf

Proost.

Have one on me.

jpe