Cluster service

What is Cluster Service?

A Microsoft Windows NT service in Microsoft Cluster Server (MSCS) that controls cluster activity, communication between cluster servers, and failover operations. (Windows Clustering in Windows 2000 also includes a Cluster service.)

The Cluster service controls all aspects of cluster operation and manages the MSCS configuration database. Each node in a cluster runs its own instance of the Cluster service.

The Cluster service handles the following functions:

• Configuration and management of clustering service objects (nodes, networks, resources, groups, and so on)
• Coordination between all instances of the service running on the cluster
• Failover operations
• Event notification

The Cluster service provides three benefits:

• High availability:
  If one node of a cluster fails, the other node starts providing services, making mission-critical applications continually available to clients. This process is called failover.

   

• Scalability:
  Using clustering technology, less powerful computer systems can be enhanced when grouped into clusters.

   

• Manageability:
  Since both nodes of a cluster are managed as a single system, administrative tasks are made easier.

See also

• Windows Clustering