Patent ID: 6681389
Filing Date: 2004-01-20
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
For use in a cluster computing arrangement wherein plural machines operating under original platform controlling software carry out various applications in accordance with original application software, a method of updating platform and/or application software comprising the steps of:installing updated platform software in a platform software directory and/or updated application software in an application software directory; activating the updated platform software and/or updated application software in the cluster of machines during operation of the machines, wherein activating the updated platform software and/or updated application software includes selected from one of the following; a process restart, a cluster-wide boot of all online machines in the cluster, and no startup action performed as determined by the highest restart activation level of the updated platform and/or a software being performed; monitoring operation of the cluster of machines under the control of the updated platform software and/or updated application software; automatically backing out the updated platform and/or updated application software upon detection of a problem in the operation of the updated platform and/or updated application software; and reactivating a backup copy of the original platform software and/or original application software following backing out of the updated platform and/or updated application software; or converting the updated platform software and/or updated application software to an official state if a problem in the operation of the updated platform software and/or updated application software is not detected; wherein each of the steps of installing, activating, backing out, reactivating and converting has an associated software update assist script.