Patent ID: 6957254
Filing Date: 2005-10-18
Classification: G06F,H04L

Abstract:
1. A method for selecting a node to host a primary server for a service from a plurality of nodes in a distributed computing system, the method comprising: periodically sending checkpoint information from a primary server to a secondary server; receiving an indication that a state of the distributed computing system has changed; in response to the indication, determining if there is already a node hosting the primary server for the service; and if there is not already a node hosting the primary server, selecting a node to host the primary server based upon rank information for the nodes, wherein the rank information specifies whether the selected node is a secondary server which has received the checkpoint information, whereby the secondary server is able to take over for the primary server without having to wait to receive additional configuration information; wherein selecting a node to host the primary server based upon rank information for the nodes occurs concurrently on all active nodes; and wherein the identity of the node that hosts the primary server is communicated through a set of lockable, shared candidate variables located on the individual nodes that are accessed remotely by all of the active nodes to disqualify individual nodes from hosting the primary server based upon rank information.