Patent ID: 6487622
Filing Date: 2002-11-26
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
A computer system operable to provide a plurality of nodes of a cluster with a quorum resource, comprising:a network interface controller operable to send messages to said plurality nodes via a network and receive messages from said plurality of nodes via said network; a mass storage device comprising storage that is used to implement said quorum resource and that is accessible by said plurality of nodes via said network interface controller; a processor operably coupled to said network interface controller and said mass storage device; and memory operably coupled to said processor and comprising a plurality of instructions, which when executed by said processor, causes said processor to: a) receive a first message requesting ownership of said quorum resource from a first node of said plurality of nodes via said network interface controller, b) determine whether said first node already owns said quorum resource in response to receiving said first message, c) determine whether a second message requesting ownership of said quorum resource is received from a second node of said plurality of nodes within a predetermined time period of receiving said first message if said first node does not already own said quorum resource, and d) grant ownership of said quorum resource to said first node of said plurality of nodes if said second message is not received within said predetermined time period.