Cluster — a certain amount of data or hardware capacity combined into a logical group and forming a single resource. Using clusters, you can increase the reliability and performance of the system.
Transition to a new stage of building technological processes
Cloud computing has become a new trend in the modern market in the IT sector of companies. Before the interest in optimizing business processes arose, companies built IT infrastructure using traditional methods: buying server equipment, designing classical topologies that did not provide for load distribution between system components. This led to poor system performance and a lack of fault tolerance.
What is a Cluster?
A cluster is a set of combined computing capacities that form a single system. The main quality of the cluster as a tool for technological optimization is redundancy. Clusters are used to ensure that in case of problems on any of the network segments, it is possible to ensure stable operation of the service(s). Logically, the cluster exists as a single server made up of server machines grouped together.
The cluster is orchestrated (managed) using a specialized software module (orchestrator). Inside the cluster, nodes (servers) can synchronize data. With the help of orchestration mechanisms, messages in the network are transmitted faster, while not clogging the channels, since they are effectively distributed between destination addresses. Clusters are necessary for the implementation of a large number of nonlinear simultaneous processes. In a classic network infrastructure, it is difficult to group calculations in such a way that the system runs faster. A cluster device solves the problem of grouping servers, synchronizing them, and organizing interaction.
Server cluster usage models
Centralized information storage
A server cluster can be implemented as a centralized information storage in the system. A single information pool provides uninterrupted access to records in the database. If the cluster consists of a large number of servers, then using the centralized storage model will lead to difficulties in transferring and reserving data, i.e. to a general loss in infrastructure performance
Independence of servers within the cluster
Cluster units function independently of each other, and in case of an emergency situation, it becomes possible to delegate tasks to another unit(s). With constant redistribution, a problem arises, which is the limited use of a shared database.
Cluster solutions are the next step towards full automation and flexibility of information processes in the company’s IT organization.
