Patent ID: 8396908

Claim:
A method for operating a cluster file system for a cluster connected by a storage area network, comprising: receiving by a candidate node having one or more processors and a local memory, from a cluster database server maintaining a cluster configuration database, a periodic multicast of a cluster database server address, an incarnation number of the cluster database server, and a database generation identifier for the cluster configuration database; establishing by the candidate node a communication link with the cluster database server in response to the multicast cluster database server address and the database generation identifier; requesting by the candidate node cluster information from the cluster database server to join the cluster, the cluster information including an address for at least one switch in the storage area network; obtaining by the candidate node from the at least one switch at least one port address of at least one port connected to at least one host bus adapter of the candidate node; sending the at least one port address and an address of the at least one host bus adapter from the candidate node to the cluster database server to update the cluster configuration database concerning the cluster maintained by the cluster database server; requesting membership in the cluster by the candidate node; monitoring changes in the multicast cluster database server address, the incarnation number and the database generation identifier, wherein the changes indicate the candidate node is to request a new cluster configuration and update cluster configuration data; and reconfiguring the cluster file system and a kernel based on the new cluster configuration and the update of the cluster configuration data.