Cluster management system and method

Abstract

A method of compute clustering includes identifying a defined cluster, the cluster including a plurality of receptors in a chassis. Each receptor may be configured to couple the chassis to a network device, at least one of the plurality of receptors in the cluster being unoccupied by a network device. Physical locations associated with each of the plurality of receptors may be stored. Such storing of the physical locations may include storing the physical location associated with the at least one receptor in the cluster that is unoccupied by a network device. In accordance with a particular embodiment of the present invention, the method further includes receiving an image designated as a default image for the plurality of receptors in the cluster. The default image may be associated the at least one receptor in the cluster that is unoccupied by a network device.

1 . A method of compute clustering, comprising: 
 identifying a defined cluster, the cluster including a plurality of receptors in a chassis, each receptor configured to couple the chassis to a network device, at least one of the plurality of receptors in the cluster being unoccupied by a network device;    storing the physical locations associated with each of the plurality of receptors; and    wherein storing the physical locations includes storing the physical location associated with the at least one receptor in the cluster that is unoccupied by a network device.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 receiving an image designated as a default image for the plurality of receptors in the cluster.    
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising: 
 associating the default image with the at least one receptor in the cluster that is unoccupied by a network device.    
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the image comprises a physical location identifying software that operates to configure the plurality of receptors in the cluster.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 receiving a designation that a selected one of the plurality of receptors is a master receptor; and    receiving an image designated as a master image for the selected receptor.    
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the master image comprises a physical location identifying software that operates to configure the selected receptor.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 detecting the presence of a network device coupled to the at least one receptor in the cluster that was previously unoccupied; and    in response to detecting the presence, automatically installing an image on the network device, the image comprising a default image designated for the plurality of receptors in the cluster.    
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 detecting the presence of a network device coupled to the at least one receptor in the cluster that was previously unoccupied; and    generating a message displayed to a user over a graphical user interface, the message providing the user with the option of installing a default image on the network device, the default image designated for the plurality of receptors in the cluster.    
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 detecting the presence of a network device coupled to the at least one receptor in the cluster that was previously unoccupied;    reading an image associated with the network device;    determining that the image associated with the network device is not a default image designated for the plurality of receptors in the cluster; and    overriding the image by installing the default image on the network device.    
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 detecting the presence of a network device coupled to the at least one receptor in the cluster that was previously unoccupied;    reading an image associated with the network device;    determining that the image associated with the network device is not a default image designated for the plurality of receptors in the cluster; and    generating a message displayed to a user over a graphical user interface, the message providing the user with the option of installing the default image on the network device.    
   
   
       11 . Compute clustering software embodied in a computer-readable medium and operable to: 
 identify a defined cluster, the cluster including a plurality of receptors in a chassis, each receptor configured to couple the chassis to a network device, at least one of the plurality of receptors in the cluster being unoccupied by a network device;    store the physical locations associated with each of the plurality of receptors; and    wherein storing the physical locations includes storing the physical locations associated with the at least one receptor in the cluster that is unoccupied by a network device.    
   
   
       12 . The software of  claim 11 , further operable to: 
 receive an image designated as a default image for the plurality of receptors in the cluster.    
   
   
       13 . The software of  claim 12 , further operable to: 
 associate the default image with the at least one receptor in the cluster that is unoccupied by a network device.    
   
   
       14 . The software of  claim 12 , wherein the image comprises a physical location identifying software that operates to configure the plurality of receptors in the cluster.  
   
   
       15 . The software of  claim 11 , further operable to: 
 receive a designation that a selected one of the plurality of receptors is a master receptor; and    receive an image designated as a master image for the selected receptor.    
   
   
       16 . The software of  claim 15 , wherein the master image comprises a physical location identifying software that operates to configure the selected receptor.  
   
   
       17 . The software of  claim 11 , further operable to: 
 detect the presence of a network device coupled to the at least one receptor in the cluster that was previously unoccupied; and    install an image on the network device, the image comprising a default image designated for the plurality of receptors in the cluster.    
   
   
       18 . The software of  claim 11 , further operable to: 
 detect the presence of a network device coupled to the at least one receptor in the cluster that was previously unoccupied; and    generate a message displayed to a user over a graphical user interface, the message providing the user with the option of installing a default image on the network device, the default image designated for the plurality of receptors in the cluster.    
   
   
       19 . The software of  claim 11 , further operable to: 
 detect the presence of a network device coupled to the at least one receptor in the cluster that was previously unoccupied;    read an image associated with the network device;    determine that the image associated with the network device is not a default image designated for the plurality of receptors in the cluster; and    override the image by installing the default image on the network device.    
   
   
       20 . The software of  claim 11 , further operable to: 
 detect the presence of a network device coupled to the at least one receptor in the cluster that was previously unoccupied;    read an image associated with the network device;    determine that the image associated with the network device is not a default image designated for the plurality of receptors in the cluster; and    generate a message displayed to a user over a graphical user interface, the message providing the user with the option of installing the default image on the network device.    
   
   
       21 . A graphical user interface operable to: 
 receive information from a user identifying a defined cluster, the information including the physical locations associated with a plurality of receptors in the cluster, each receptor configured to couple to a network device, at least one of the plurality of receptors in the cluster unoccupied by a network device; and    graphically present the information to the user; wherein graphically presenting the information includes presenting physical locations associated with the at least one receptor in the cluster that is unoccupied by a network device.    
   
   
       22 . The graphical user interface of  claim 21 , further operable to: 
 receive an image from a user designated as a default image for the plurality of receptors in the cluster.    
   
   
       23 . The graphical user interface of  claim 22 , further operable to: 
 graphically associate the default image with the at least one receptor in the cluster that is unoccupied by a network device.    
   
   
       24 . The graphical user interface of  claim 22 , wherein the image comprises a physical location identifying software that operates to configure the plurality of receptors in the cluster.  
   
   
       25 . The graphical user interface of  claim 21 , further operable to: 
 receive a designation that a selected one of the plurality of receptors is a master receptor from the user; and    receive an image designated as a master image for the selected receptor from the user.    
   
   
       26 . The graphical user interface of  claim 25 , wherein the master image comprises a physical location identifying software that operates to configure the selected receptor.  
   
   
       27 . A method of compute clustering, comprising: 
 identifying a defined cluster, the cluster including a plurality of potential physical locations configured to receive a network device, at least one of the potential physical locations being unoccupied by a network device;    storing the potential physical locations; and    wherein storing the potential physical locations includes storing the potential physical location that is unoccupied by a network device.