Configure clusters

Understand how to go about creating a cluster.

IBM® and IBM cluster middleware IBM Business Partners have teamed together to provide state-of-the-art cluster resource services functions along with a graphical user interface (GUI) for cluster management. i5/OS™ cluster resource services provides a set of integrated services that maintain cluster topology, perform heartbeating, 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. In addition, cluster resource services provides a set of control language (CL) commands and application program interfaces (APIs) and facilities that can be used by iSeries™ application providers or customers to enhance their application availability. Cluster resource services functions can also be accessed via graphical user interface solutions provided by iSeries Navigator cluster management and cluster middleware IBM Business Partner products.

Getting started

Follow these steps to configure a cluster:

  1. Select a software solution.

    See Solutions for configuring and managing clusters for complete look at the options for configuring and managing clusters.

  2. Satisfy the hardware, software and communications requirements.

    Review the cluster requirements in Plan for clusters.

  3. Set up your network and server environment for clusters.

    Use the Cluster configuration checklist to make sure that you are prepared to configure clusters in your environment.

  4. Configure your cluster.
Related concepts
Who to call for cluster support