Re: Inter-Kernel Communications (Multi Kernel Clusters)

Systemkennung Linux (linux@mailhost.uni-koblenz.de)
Mon, 24 Feb 1997 10:46:02 +0100 (MET)


Hi,

> The difference between Sprite and Linux is that linux WORKS. You could
> also say that Solaris already does what Linux DOES. That is not the point
> ... can you imagine using the linux kernel on a number of PC's to build a
> mainframe style expandable cluster.

There are some funny special cases that need to be considered. How
does your proposal handling failing components in the cluster? Imagine
a network failure that split your cluster in two parts, each fully
functional but unconnected to the rest. The so called split-brain
syndrome. Now each cluster half will continue processing and assumes
it is authoritive? Imagine a database system being split up into
two systems ...

(Even funnier - there is a currently under development supercomputer
architecture with exactly that kind problems but in one single machine.)

Ralf