Server clusters

A server cluster is a group of servers that work together as a single logical server to provide high availability System design approach and associated service implementation that ensures a pre-arranged level of operational performance will be met during a contractual measurement period. for applications or databases. Each server in a server cluster has identical server role Entity that contains a logical, predefined set of components (system software or certified third-party software) deployed in the Data Center and Site Zones that provide specific functionality for the system. configurations and associations.

In a server cluster, high availability for applications or databases is achieved by supporting load balancing and failover:

• Load balancing - In a server cluster, the workload is spread equally across multiple servers. Evenly balancing the workload among multiple servers provides users with better performance than if all users accessed a single server.

• Failover - If one server in a server cluster fails, the work performed by that server is rerouted to the remaining operational servers in the cluster. (The rerouting of work to a different server is also called “fail over.”) This capability ensures that users have continued access to applications or databases even if a server in the cluster fails.

Topics