JP2011242968A - Server cluster system, server cluster management device and server cluster management method - Google Patents

Abstract

An object of the present invention is to automate the construction (or configuration change) and setting of a server cluster.
In a server cluster system of the present invention, a server administrator simply gives an instruction to the server cluster management device to construct a server cluster (starts up a load balancer) to the server cluster management device. The free server 810 is activated as the load balancer 200 by causing the load balancer boot image to be acquired in 810.
[Selection] Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a technology for automatically performing construction (or configuration change) and setting of a server cluster composed of a plurality of servers and a load balancer.

  Conventionally, a server cluster that performs distributed processing with a plurality of servers may be employed in order to increase the processing capacity of an application or make a system redundant in a server (see Non-Patent Document 1). A general server cluster has a configuration in which a load balancer is arranged in the previous stage and messages are distributed to the subsequent server group. From the device facing the server cluster (hereinafter referred to as the “counter device”), the load balancer address looks as if it is a server termination point, so if a subsequent server fails or the number of servers is increased or decreased However, the service can be operated without making the opposite device aware of the change of the connection destination.

Kenji Tokunaga et al., “Web application server design and construction know-how”, Nikkei Business Publications, p. 24-34

  However, since a server cluster is composed of a plurality of servers and a load balancer, the configuration is complicated, and there is a problem of increased costs for construction (or configuration change) and setting.

  Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to automate the construction (or configuration change) and setting of a server cluster.

In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention provides a server cluster management apparatus that manages a server cluster that includes a plurality of servers that provide services to the opposite apparatus via a network and a load balancer that distributes processing to the servers, A server cluster system comprising: a free server that is a server of
The server cluster management device constructs the server cluster in response to a request from a maintenance system, and a boot image management unit that stores a load balancer boot image for starting the free server as a load balancer when the server cluster is constructed A server cluster configuration management unit.
When the empty server receives a start instruction as a load balancer from the server cluster configuration management unit of the server cluster management device, the free server accesses the boot image management unit of the server cluster management device to obtain the load balancer boot image. Then, the obtained load balancer boot image is used to start as the load balancer.

  According to the present invention, the server cluster management apparatus starts up a free server as a load balancer only by giving an instruction to construct a server cluster (starting up a load balancer) from the maintenance system to the server cluster management apparatus. That is, server cluster construction and setting can be automated.

In addition, the present invention manages a server cluster composed of a plurality of servers that provide services to an opposing device via a network, a load balancer that distributes processing to those servers, a free server that is a spare server, and the server cluster. And a server cluster management device.
The server cluster management device includes a boot image management unit that stores a server boot image for starting the empty server as a server in the server cluster, and a server that increases the number of servers in the server cluster in response to a request from a maintenance system. And a cluster configuration management unit.
When the empty server receives a start instruction as a server of the server cluster from the server cluster configuration management unit of the server cluster management device, the empty server accesses the boot image management unit of the server cluster management device and And the server boot image is used to start the server.
The server cluster configuration management unit of the server cluster management apparatus instructs the load balancer to change the setting to add the activated server to the server cluster.

  According to this invention, the server cluster management apparatus adds a free server as a server in the server cluster only by giving an instruction to increase the number of servers in the server cluster from the maintenance system to the server cluster management apparatus. In other words, the server cluster configuration change and setting can be automated.

  In the present invention, at least one of the servers constituting the server cluster stores the server boot image, and the empty server is transmitted from the server cluster configuration management unit of the server cluster management device to the server cluster. When the server boot instruction is received, the server boot image is acquired by accessing the server storing the server boot image instead of the boot image management unit of the server cluster management device, and the obtained server boot By using the image, it is started as the server.

  According to this invention, the server boot image is stored not only in the boot image management unit of the server cluster management apparatus but also in any of the servers that constitute the server cluster. As a result, even when a plurality of free servers are started as servers in a server cluster, it is possible to avoid the concentration of access from free servers for server boot image acquisition in the boot image management unit of the server cluster management device. The time required for copying the boot image can be shortened.

  According to the present invention, server cluster construction (or configuration change) and setting can be automated.

1 is an overall configuration diagram of a server cluster system of the present embodiment. It is a functional block diagram of a server cluster management apparatus. It is a sequence diagram which shows the procedure at the time of construction | assembly of a server cluster. It is a sequence diagram which shows the procedure which adds a server to a server cluster. It is a figure which shows the outline | summary of the state of the server in the case of a modification, a server cluster management apparatus, and a free server.

  DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, a mode for carrying out the present invention (hereinafter referred to as an “embodiment”) will be described in detail with reference to the drawings (refer to drawings other than the referenced drawings as appropriate). FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a server cluster system according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, in the server cluster system 1, the server cluster 100 provides a service to a counter device 600 such as a server 610 and a terminal 620 via an IP (Internet Protocol) network 500.

  The server cluster 100 includes a load balancer 200 and a plurality of servers 300, and is managed by the server cluster management device 400. The server cluster management apparatus 400 is connected to the maintenance network 700, and a maintenance person manages the server cluster 100 using the server cluster management apparatus 400 through the maintenance system 710.

  The server pool 800 is composed of one or more free servers 810. The free server 810 is a server in a stopped state as a spare device for the server cluster 100 and is managed by the server cluster management device 400.

  FIG. 2 is a functional configuration diagram of the server cluster management device 400. As shown in FIG. 2, the server cluster management device 400 includes a boot image management unit 410, a server cluster configuration management unit 420, and a server pool management unit 430.

  The boot image management unit 410 manages (stores, reads, etc.) software images (for example, OS (Operating System), application software, etc.) for starting the load balancer 200 and the server 300 that constitute the server cluster 100. The load balancer boot image 411 is a software image for starting the load balancer 200. For example, a load balancer 200 that operates on a general-purpose server like a Linux boot image in which an LVS (Linux Virtual Server) is installed and set. This is a boot image.

  The server boot image 412 is a software image for starting the server 300, and is a boot image for operating a server constituting a cluster such as a Web application server or a SIP (Session Initiation Protocol) application server.

  The server cluster configuration management unit 420 remotely activates the server cluster 100 using the load balancer boot image 411 and the server boot image 412, and responds to a request from a maintenance person who uses the maintenance system 710. Increase or decrease the number of servers 300 constituting the server. When the server 300 is added, a free server 810 managed by the server pool 800 is used. The maintenance person uses the server cluster configuration management unit 420 immediately even if processing requests to the server 300 increase by connecting a certain number of free servers 810 to the server pool 800 in a stopped state. This can be dealt with by increasing the number of servers 300 using the free servers 810.

  Specifically, the server cluster configuration management unit 420 includes a load balancer initial setting unit 421, a load balancer setting change unit 422, and a server initial setting unit 423. The function of each part will be described with reference to FIGS. The server cluster configuration management unit 420 stores an address indicating a location where the load balancer boot image 411 and the server boot image 412 are stored. In addition, the server pool management unit 430 manages (stores, reads, etc.) information on the free servers 810 in the server pool 800.

  FIG. 3 is a sequence diagram illustrating a procedure when the server cluster 100 is constructed. First, the maintenance person registers the boot image of the load balancer 200 in the boot image management unit 410 of the server cluster management device 400 through the maintenance system 710 (the load balancer boot image 411 is registered) (S301). The boot image to be registered is preferably set so that an address is set at the time of startup using DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) or the like.

  Next, the maintenance person sends an instruction to newly build the server cluster 100 to the server cluster configuration management unit 420 (S302). At this time, the main parameters to be instructed are the representative address that the server cluster 100 discloses to the opposite device 600 and the address of the load balancer boot image 411 for starting up the load balancer 200. The information is the load balancer initial setting. Stored in the unit 421.

  Thereafter, the server cluster configuration management unit 420 acquires information on the free server 810 from the server pool management unit 430, and remotely activates the free server 810 to be used as a load balancer based on the acquired information. An instruction is given (S303). This remote activation instruction can be realized by using an IF (Interface) such as WOL (Wake On LAN) or IPMI (Intelligent Platform Management Interface).

  The free server 810 that has received the remote start instruction inquires of the server cluster configuration management unit 420 about the address of the boot image (load balancer boot image 411) for starting as a load balancer (S304). The empty server 810 acquires the address of the load balancer boot image 411 in response to a response from the load balancer initial setting unit 421 of the server cluster configuration management unit 420.

  The free server 810 acquires the load balancer boot image 411 of the boot image management unit 410 using the acquired address, and tries remote boot (startup) (S305). As a remote boot method for designating the boot image address at startup, for example, a combination of DHCP and PXE (Preboot eXecution Environment) can be considered.

  The empty server 810 operates as a load balancer 200 constituting the server cluster 100 with the conditions (address, etc.) designated in S302 after being activated in S305.

  Next, a procedure for adding the server 300 to the server cluster 100 will be described. FIG. 4 is a sequence diagram showing a procedure for adding the server 300 to the server cluster 100. First, the maintenance person registers the server boot image 412 in the boot image management unit 410 of the server cluster management apparatus 400 via the maintenance system 710 (S401). The server boot image 412 includes a server boot image including an application that operates as the server cluster 100. Depending on the clustering method of the server cluster 100, there is also a server that is in charge of a specific function in the cluster without directly processing a message (for example, a non-message processing server such as a DB (Data Base) server). Additional information representing such characteristics of the server 300 is also stored in accordance with the server boot image 412.

  Next, the maintenance person instructs the server cluster configuration management unit 420 to add the server 300 to the specific server cluster 100 (S402). At this time, the main parameters to be instructed are information on the target server cluster 100 and the address of the server boot image 412 for starting up the server 300, and the information is stored in the server initial setting unit 423. Since the processes of S403 to S405 are performed by replacing “load balancer” in the processes of S303 to S305 with “server”, description thereof is omitted.

  When starting the clustering software that requires server cluster configuration information when starting up as the server 300, the free server 810 inquires the server cluster configuration management unit 420 for server cluster configuration information (such as the representative address of the server cluster 100) ( S406). For S406 and subsequent steps, a server that is originally a free server 810 and becomes a server 300 is referred to as a “newly added server 300”.

  After S406, the load balancer setting change unit 422 of the server cluster configuration management unit 420, if necessary, applies to the load balancer 200 that has been activated in advance based on the additional information in the server boot image 412 stored in S401. Then, a setting change request is transmitted to distribute the message to the newly added server 300 (S407).

  As described above, whether the server cluster 100 is constructed or the server 300 is added to the server cluster 100, the maintenance person automatically registers and constructs and adds the first boot image, and automatically adds them. Can be built and added. That is, construction (or configuration change) and setting of the server cluster 100 can be automated.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, by using two boot images that are applied to the free server 810, the free server 810 can be used as both the load balancer 200 and the server 300. Therefore, as compared with the conventional case where the load balancer hardware and the server hardware are prepared, the spare hardware (empty server 810) can be reduced.

  Further, since the role of the server 300 constituting the server cluster 100 and the distribution logic of the load balancer 200 are automatically linked by the additional information stored in association with the server boot image 412, any clustering model of the server cluster 100 can be used. In contrast, the configuration can be automated.

  Next, a modification of this embodiment will be described. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an overview of the states of the server 300, the server cluster management device 400, and the free server 810 in the modification. As shown in FIG. 5, a server boot image area 310 and a temporary file area 320 are provided in the server 300 as storage areas in which a server boot image once written cannot be rewritten. Then, the server boot image 412 of the server cluster management device 400 is copied to the server boot image area 310.

  Thereby, the server boot image can be stored not only in the server cluster management apparatus 400 but also in the existing server 300. Then, when the server cluster 100 is constructed or when the server 300 is added, the free server 810 can access either the server cluster management device 400 or the existing server 300 in order to obtain a server boot image. Get better. Then, even when a plurality of free servers 810 obtain server boot images, it is possible to avoid concentration of access for reading the server boot image 412 with respect to the server cluster management device 400. Accordingly, when the plurality of servers 300 are increased (started up), the time required for copying the server boot image can be shortened.

  Although description of this embodiment is finished above, the aspect of the present invention is not limited to these. The specific configuration of the hardware and software can be changed as appropriate without departing from the gist of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Server cluster system 100 Server cluster 200 Load balancer 300 Server 310 Server boot image area 320 Temporary file area 400 Server cluster management apparatus 410 Boot image management part 411 Load balancer boot image 412 Server boot image 420 Server cluster configuration management part 421 Initial load balancer Setting unit 422 Load balancer setting changing unit 423 Server initial setting unit 430 Server pool management unit 500 IP network 600 Counter device 610 Server 620 Terminal 700 Maintenance network 710 Maintenance system 800 Server pool 810 Free server

Claims (7)

A server cluster comprising: a server cluster management device that manages a server cluster including a plurality of servers that provide services to the opposite device via a network and a load balancer that distributes processing to those servers; and a spare server that is a spare server A system,
The server cluster management device
A boot image management unit for storing a load balancer boot image for starting the empty server as a load balancer when the server cluster is constructed;
A server cluster configuration management unit that constructs the server cluster in response to a request from the maintenance system,
The free server is
When receiving a start instruction as a load balancer from the server cluster configuration management unit of the server cluster management device, the boot image management unit of the server cluster management device is accessed to acquire the load balancer boot image, and the acquired A server cluster system, wherein a load balancer boot image is used to start up as the load balancer. A server cluster comprising a plurality of servers that provide services to the opposite device via a network, a load balancer that distributes processing to those servers, a free server that is a spare server, and a server cluster management device that manages the server cluster; A server cluster system comprising:
The server cluster management device
A boot image management unit for storing a server boot image for starting the empty server as a server in the server cluster;
A server cluster configuration management unit that increases the number of servers in the server cluster in response to a request from the maintenance system,
The free server is
When receiving an instruction to start the server cluster as a server cluster from the server cluster configuration management unit of the server cluster management device, the boot image management unit of the server cluster management device is accessed to obtain the server boot image, By using the acquired server boot image, start as the server,
The server cluster configuration management unit of the server cluster management device,
A server cluster system that instructs the load balancer to change a setting to add the activated server to the server cluster. At least one of the servers constituting the server cluster stores the server boot image,
The free server is
When a server cluster configuration management unit of the server cluster management device receives an instruction to start the server cluster as a server, it accesses a server that stores the server boot image instead of the boot image management unit of the server cluster management device The server cluster system according to claim 2, wherein the server boot image is acquired, and the server boot image is started by using the acquired server boot image. A server cluster comprising: a server cluster management device that manages a server cluster including a plurality of servers that provide services to the opposite device via a network and a load balancer that distributes processing to those servers; and a spare server that is a spare server The server cluster management device in a system,
Storing a load balancer boot image for starting the empty server as a load balancer during the construction of the server cluster, and acquiring the load balancer boot image when accessed from the empty server; and
In response to a request from the maintenance system, a server cluster configuration management unit that constructs the server cluster by giving a start instruction as a load balancer to the empty server;
A server cluster management apparatus comprising: A server cluster comprising a plurality of servers that provide services to the opposite device via a network, a load balancer that distributes processing to those servers, a free server that is a spare server, and a server cluster management device that manages the server cluster; A server cluster management apparatus in a server cluster system comprising:
Storing a server boot image for starting the free server as a server in the server cluster, and a boot image management unit for acquiring the server boot image when accessed from the free server;
Setting to increase the number of servers in the server cluster by giving a start instruction to the free server in response to a request from the maintenance system, and to add the started server to the server cluster to the load balancer A server cluster configuration management unit for instructing the change;
A server cluster management apparatus comprising: A server cluster comprising: a server cluster management device that manages a server cluster including a plurality of servers that provide services to the opposite device via a network and a load balancer that distributes processing to those servers; and a spare server that is a spare server A server cluster management method by the server cluster management device in a system,
The server cluster management device
A boot image management unit for storing a load balancer boot image for starting the free server as a load balancer when the server cluster is constructed, and a server cluster configuration management unit,
The server cluster configuration management unit
In response to a request from the maintenance system, an instruction to start as a load balancer is given to the empty server,
The boot image management unit
A server cluster management method, comprising: obtaining the load balancer boot image when accessed from the free server. A server cluster comprising a plurality of servers that provide services to the opposite device via a network, a load balancer that distributes processing to those servers, a free server that is a spare server, and a server cluster management device that manages the server cluster; A server cluster management method by the server cluster management device in a server cluster system comprising:
The server cluster management device
A boot image management unit for storing a server boot image for starting the free server as a server in the server cluster, and a server cluster configuration management unit,
The server cluster configuration management unit
In response to a request from the maintenance system, an instruction to start the empty server is given,
The boot image management unit
When there is access from the free server, the server boot image is acquired,
The server cluster configuration management unit
A server cluster management method characterized by instructing the load balancer to change a setting to add a server started using the acquired server boot image to the server cluster.

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