Patent ID: 6609213
Filing Date: 2003-08-19
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
A system for recovering from the failure of a server in a computer network comprising one or more non-clustered servers, wherein each server possesses a network address, and one or more devices, wherein the devices are communicatively coupled to the network and associated with a LUN address and wherein each LUN address is owned by a server, comprising:a heartbeat mechanism operable to transmit a heartbeat signal to a server and receive a response from the server, whereby a failing server may be detected if a response to the heartbeat signal is not received; LUN management software, wherein the LUN management software is operable to re-assign the LUN addresses owned by the failing server when the failing server is detected; a cluster group comprising at least one cluster server, wherein the cluster server is operable to receive ownership of the LUN addresses owned by the failing server; and wherein the cluster server is running cluster software operable for creating a recovery group that is associated with the network address associated with the failing server, and wherein the recovery group is operable to receive a user or computer network request that is directed to the associated network address of the failing server, such that the cluster server is operable to serve the user or run an application associated with the failing server.