Re: Clustering for Linux 2.3.x?!

["Albert D. Cahalan" <acahalan@cs.uml.edu>]

Erik writes:

> I consider this to be exactly the /wrong/ way to go about it! Why? It'll
> make application lazy. And why is that bad? Because redundancy is needed
> in apps too, and we'll end up implementing clustering both in kernel and
> in the apps.

Some people need redundancy in apps. Some people don't.

> The one place where kernel support is needed is distributed
> redundant filesystems, CODA and AFS pops up in my mind -- fast enough?

No, not appropriate at all. CODA and AFS are designed for large
networks. CODA at least does not support locking. Neither supports
simple sharing of disk space accross the machines. You would want
data to migrate to where it is needed.

Kernel support is also needed for process ID allocation and scheduling.

> <mantra> message-passing, message-passing, message...  </mantra>
>
> Finally: the distributed ipc isn't BAD, but IMO new clusterd apps should
> not be implemented using it.

Sure they should. Some people are comfortable with the API.
Programmer time often costs more than machine time.

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