Configuring clusters

Any i5/OS implementation of high availability requires a configured cluster to control and manage resilient resources. When used with other data resiliency technologies, such as switched disk, cross-site mirroring, or logical replication, cluster technology provides the key infrastructure that is necessary for high-availability solutions.

Cluster resource services provides a set of integrated services that maintain cluster topology, perform heartbeating monitorng, and allow creation and administration of cluster configuration and cluster resource groups. Cluster resource services also provides reliable messaging functions that keep track of each node in the cluster and ensures that all nodes have consistent information about the state of cluster resources. The Cluster Resource Service graphical user interface, which is part of the IBM® PowerHA® for i (iHASM) licensed program number (5770-HAS), allows you to configure and manage clusters within your high-availability solution. In addition, the licensed program also provides a set of control language (CL) commands that will allow you to work with cluster configurations.

There is also application program interfaces (APIs) and facilities that can be used by application providers or customers to enhance their application availability.

In addition to these IBM technologies, high availability business partners provide applications that use clusters with logical replication technology.

  • Creating a cluster
    To create a cluster, you need to include at least one node in the cluster and you must have access to at least one of the nodes that will be in the cluster.
Parent topic: Configuring high availability