Bootstrapping server using configuration file stored in server-managed storage

摘要

A method and apparatus for booting a clustered management system is provided where the configuration information required to boot the system is stored within the system itself. The techniques cope with several issues including finding the configuration data on the physical disk before the logical disk system is established, coping with replicated copies of configuration data, network partitions and disk drive failures that may prevent a booting node to have perfect knowledge of the state of the entire system, and active nodes modifying or moving configuration data while the booting node is searching for a consistent, correct copy of configuration data.

主权项

1. A method performed by a multi-node clustered storage system that stores data on multiple shared storage devices, comprising:
a first node of said multi-node clustered storage system performing bootstrapping operations based on configuration data; wherein performing bootstrapping operations further comprises:
said first node directly accessing said multiple shared storage devices to retrieve a first version of said configuration data that is stored on said multiple shared storage devices, said first version of said configuration data being stored at a non-fixed location on said multiple shared storage devices;said first node directly accessing said multiple shared storage devices to retrieve a second version of said configuration data that is stored on said multiple shared storage devices, said second version of said configuration data being stored at a non-fixed location on said multiple shared storage devices;wherein said first node directly accesses said multiple shared storage devices to retrieve versions of said configuration data by not using any other node of said multi-node clustered storage system to access said multiple shared storage devices to retrieve said versions of said configuration data;said first node analyzing said first version of said configuration data retrieved from said multiple shared storage devices and determining that said first version is not a correct version;said first node analyzing said second version of said configuration data retrieved from said multiple shared storage devices and determining that said second version is a correct version; andin response to determining that said second version is a correct version, configuring said multi-node clustered storage system based on contents of said second version.