Patent ID: 7020695
Filing Date: 2006-03-28
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A method for maintaining a cluster definition for a network cluster of computing nodes having a plurality of member nodes and a network structure for facilitating network connectivity between nodes, the method comprising: coupling at least two member nodes to a shared repository over a storage connection separate from the network structure; storing a cluster definition for the network cluster in the shared repository; selecting a coordinator node from the at least two member nodes of the network cluster; accessing, by a member node, the cluster definition on the shared repository using the storage connection, the member node having membership in the network cluster regardless of network connectivity with another node; at a member node, requesting a change to the cluster definition by sending a proposed change to the shared repository over the storage connection; and in response to the proposed change request, updating, from the coordinator node, the cluster definition stored in the shared repository to reflect the requested change.