Method for operating a node cluster system in a network and node cluster system

Abstract

Operating a node cluster system with a plurality of nodes in a network, wherein the cluster system appears to be a single node with only one specific network address to its network environment. Providing a shared socket database for linking network connection port identifications of a common set of network connection port identifications to the individual nodes, assigning a master function to one of the nodes, sending incoming traffic to all nodes of the cluster system wherein each node verifies its responsibility for this traffic individually, exclusive assignment of a network connection port to the responsible node for the duration of a connection of the corresponding application process by means of the corresponding network connection port identification and the link established by the shared socket database and processing of the traffic by the responsible node or otherwise by the node having the master function.

1 . In a communications network including a node cluster having a plurality of nodes, but said cluster having a single network address, a method of transmission comprising:
 providing a shared socket database for linking network connection port identifiers for each of a common shared set of network port identifiers for respective connection to each of said plurality of nodes;   assigning a master function to one of said plurality of nodes;   sending incoming data transmissions to all of said plurality of nodes wherein only one of the nodes is enabled to accept responsibility for an incoming data transmission;   assigning exclusive connection to the network to the node accepting responsibility for a required duration of a data processing function from the identified network port corresponding to the responsible node to the shared socket database; and   processing data transmissions during said duration either through said responsible node or said node having said master function.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further including, responsive to a request for said shared socket database,
 said responsible node requesting a reservation of the corresponding identified network port to said shared socket database, and   providing a confirmation of the reservation.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein incoming data is sent through said exclusive connection, and to said master node. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  further including establishing an outgoing connection from one of said plurality of nodes and another network destination through said socket, wherein outgoing data may be transmitted. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4  wherein said outgoing connection is established, responsive to an application being processed, by automatically sequentially seeking the next available network connection port. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5  includes assigning different network connection port ranges to each of said plurality of nodes and by automatically looking sequentially for the next available network connection port within said ranges. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  further including reassigning the master function to another one of said plurality of nodes in the event of failure of the node to which the master function is originally assigned. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further including, in the event of failure of the node to which exclusive connection is assigned:
 removing all entries of said failure node from the shared socket database;   reserving the network port identifications of said entries for a predetermined time period; and   releasing said reserved port identifications for use by any of said plurality of nodes after said time period.   
     
     
         9 . In a communications network including a node cluster having a plurality of nodes, but said cluster having a single network address, a system for transmission comprising:
 a processor;   a computer memory holding computer program instructions that, when executed by the processor, perform the method comprising:   providing a shared socket database for linking network connection port identifiers for each of a common shared set of network port identifiers for respective connection to each of said plurality of nodes;   assigning a master function to one of said plurality of nodes;   sending incoming data transmissions to all of said plurality of nodes wherein only one of the nodes is enabled to accept responsibility for an incoming data transmission;   assigning exclusive connection to the network to the node accepting responsibility for a required duration of a data processing function from the identified network port corresponding to the responsible node to the shared socket database; and   processing data transmissions during said duration either through said responsible node or said node having said master function.   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9  wherein the performed method further includes, responsive to a request for said shared socket database, said responsible node requesting a reservation of the corresponding identified network port to said shared socket database, and providing confirmation of the reservation. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10  wherein incoming data is sent through said exclusive connection and to said master node. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 9  further including establishing an outgoing connection from one of said plurality of nodes and another network destination through said socket wherein outgoing data may be transmitted. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 11  wherein said performed method establishes said outgoing connection, responsive to an application being processed, by automatically sequentially seeking the next available network connection port. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 9  wherein said performed method further includes reassigning the master function to another one of said plurality of nodes in the event of failure of the node to which the master function is originally assigned. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 9  wherein the performed method further includes, in the event of failure of the node to which exclusive connection is assigned:
 removing all entries of said failure node from the shared socket database; 
 reserving the network port identifications of said entries for a predetermined time period; and 
 releasing said reserved port identifications for use by any of said plurality of nodes after said time period. 
 
     
     
         16 . A computer usable storage medium having stored thereon a computer readable program for document transmission in a communications network including a node cluster having a plurality of nodes, but said cluster having a single network address, wherein the computer the readable program, when executed on a computer, causes the computer to:
 provide a shared socket database for linking network connection port identifiers for each of a common shared set of network port identifiers for respective connection to each of said plurality of nodes;   assign a master function to one of said plurality of nodes;   send incoming data transmissions to all of said plurality of nodes wherein only one of the nodes is enabled to accept responsibility for an incoming data transmission;   assign exclusive connection to the network to the node accepting responsibility for a required duration of a data processing function from the identified network port corresponding to the responsible node to the shared socket database; and   process data transmissions during said duration either through said responsible node or said node having said master function.   
     
     
         17 . The computer usable storage medium of  claim 16  wherein said computer readable program, when executed responsive to a request for said shared socket database, further causes:
 said responsible node to request a reservation of the corresponding identified network port to said shared socket database, and 
 the executed program to provide a confirmation of the reservation. 
 
     
     
         18 . The computer usable storage medium of  claim 16  wherein the computer program, when executed, further causes the computer to establish an outgoing connection from one of said plurality of nodes and another network destination through said socket, wherein outgoing data may be transmitted. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  wherein said outgoing connection is established, responsive to an application being processed, by automatically sequentially seeking the next available network connection port. 
     
     
         20 . The computer usable storage medium of  claim 19  wherein the computer program further causes the computer to assign different network connection port ranges to each of said plurality of nodes by automatically looking sequentially for the next available network connection port within said ranges. 
     
     
         21 . The computer readable storage medium of  claim 16  wherein the computer program, when executed, further causes the computer to reassign the master function to another one of said plurality of nodes in the event of failure of the node to which the master function is originally assigned. 
     
     
         22 . The computer readable storage medium of  claim 16  wherein the computer program, when executed, further causes the computer, in the event of failure of the node to which exclusive connection is assigned to:
 remove all entries of said failure node from the shared socket database; 
 reserve the network port identifications of said entries for a predetermined time period; and 
 release said reserved port identifications for use by any of said plurality of nodes after said time period.