Patent ID: 8560628
Filing Date: 2013-10-15
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. In a distributed data processing system (DPS) comprising a virtual input/output server (VIOS) cluster having a shared VIOS database (DB) and a plurality of VIOSes that provide I/O functionality for one or more client logical partitions (LPARs) located on one or more computing electronic complexes (CECs), a method for responding to a split-brain condition within the VIOS cluster, the method comprising: detecting, at a first VIOS of the plurality of VIOSes, a loss of communication with one or more second VIOSes within the VIOS cluster, wherein each of the plurality of VIOSes is communicatively connected to the other VIOSes, to the VIOS DB and to a shared storage repository of the distributed DPS holding one or more client file images, and wherein the first VIOS maintains communication with other first VIOSes to form a first VIOS sub-cluster of the VIOS cluster and the first VIOS sub-cluster includes only VIOSes that maintain communication with the other first VIOSes, the shared VIOS DB, and the shared storage repository when the loss of communication with the one or more second VIOSes is detected; assigning the first VIOS sub-cluster as a primary sub-cluster remaining from the VIOS cluster; and in response to the detected loss of communication while the first VIOS sub-cluster remains communicatively connected to the VIOS DB and to the shared storage repository: