Examples include group leader role queries. Examples include detection of a loss of communication, via a first communication protocol, between first and second computing devices, transmission, via a second communication protocol, of a query for information about the second computing device currently having the group leader role. Examples further include a determine not to assume the group leader role with the first computing device based on receiving a response to the query via the second communication protocol from the second computing device.

The present invention relates to an application that is configured to be operated in a multi-participant environment on a computer network. The application manages participants in an online session of a multi-user application so that if one of the participants exits the session, the session can continue without interruption. The application initiates an online session of the multi-user application, wherein the online session includes two or more participants comprised of network computers that are communicatively linked to a computer network. If the application detects that a first participant has disconnected from the online session, wherein the first participant is responsible for managing certain managerial functionality associated with the running of the multi-user application, then the application broadcasts a notification to existing participants of the online session over the communication network, thereby notifying the existing participants that the first participant has disconnected from the online session. The initiating application then re-assigns the functionality associated with the first participant to an existing participant of the online session. The participants can be communicating in a peer-to-peer arrangement or can be performing server duties in a client-server arrangement.

A method is provided of managing a non-static collection of machines. A first client machine runs a first communication protocol. The non-static collection of machines includes a first linear communication orbit, the first linear communication orbit comprising a sequence of machines that run the first communication protocol, and a second linear communication orbit, the second linear communication orbit comprising a sequence of machines that run a second communication protocol distinct from the first communication protocol. The first client machine receives an instruction from a server to install the second communication protocol, installs the second communication protocol, and then submits a registration request to the server. The first client machine receives, from the server, contact information of a list of potential neighbors. The first client machine then, proactively constructs and maintains a respective local segment of the second linear communication orbit.

A method, apparatus and device for determining a cluster network card, and a computer readable storage medium. The method comprises: reading a network segment of a Cluster IP from a configuration file of a current node; determining the type of the network segment of the Cluster IP by means of an address string in the network segment of the Cluster IP; obtaining an IP and a network card corresponding to the type of the network segment of the Cluster IP on the current node; and calculating the network segment of each IP, determining the IP corresponding to the network segment with the same address string as a Cluster IP, and determining the network card where the IP is located as a cluster network card. According to the disclosure, the IP corresponding to the network segment with the same address string in the network segments of the Cluster IP is determined as the Cluster IP, and the network card where the IP is located is determined as the cluster network card, so that the cluster network card can be automatically and accurately found according to the configuration file.

Various systems and methods are provided for implementing a software defined industrial system. In an example, self-descriptive control applications and software modules are provided in the context of orchestratable distributed systems. The self-descriptive control applications may be executed by an orchestrator or like control device, configured to: identify available software modules adapted to perform functional operations in a control system environment; identify operational characteristics that identify characteristics of execution of the available software modules that are available to implement a control system application; select a software module for execution based on the operational configuration and the operational characteristics identified in the manifest; and cause the execution of the selected software module in the control system environment based on an application specification for the control system application.

Systems and methods for failover port forwarding between peer storage nodes are described. Storage nodes may include separate data ports for host network communication and peer network communication. In the event of host port failure, host nodes may be configured to send failover storage requests to a different storage node and that storage node may forward the failover storage request through the peer ports to reach the target storage node.

In a running distributed data storage system that actively processes I/Os, metadata nodes are commissioned and decommissioned without taking down the storage system and without introducing interruptions to metadata or payload data I/O. The inflow of reads and writes continues without interruption even while new metadata nodes are in the process of being added and/or removed and the strong consistency of the system is guaranteed. Commissioning and decommissioning nodes within the running system enables streamlined replacement of permanently failed nodes and advantageously enables the system to adapt elastically to workload changes. An illustrative distributed barrier logic (the “view change barrier”) controls a multi-state process that controls a coordinated step-wise progression of the metadata nodes from an old view to a new normal. Rules for I/O handling govern each state until the state machine loop has been traversed and the system reaches its new normal.

A group owner of a peer-to-peer communication network is configured to determine whether all client devices associated with the peer-to-peer communication network support direct data communication. The group owner is configured to implement an awake mode for a portion of each beacon interval when all the associated client devices support direct data communication. The group owner is configured to implement a sleep mode for a remaining portion of each beacon interval to save power at the group owner without interrupting communications between the associated client devices.

Various examples relate to a wired local area network (WLAN) including a shared transmission medium. An apparatus includes a beacon counter and an operational mode controller. The beacon counter is operably coupled to a line of a shared transmission medium of a wired local area network. The beacon counter is to count beacon signals on the line and determine a beacon count over a predetermined time period, or a beacon rate of the beacon signals. The operational mode controller is to control the apparatus to take over operation as a master node of the wired local area network based, at least in part, on a maximum bus cycle length of bus cycles on the line and responsive to the beacon count or the beacon rate.

Various systems and methods for implementing a software defined industrial system are described herein. For example, an orchestrated system of distributed nodes may run an application, including modules implemented on the distributed nodes. In response to a node failing, a module may be redeployed to a replacement node. In an example, self-descriptive control applications and software modules are provided in the context of orchestratable distributed systems. The self-descriptive control applications may be executed by an orchestrator or like control device and use a module manifest to generate a control system application. For example, an edge control node of the industrial system may include a system on a chip including a microcontroller (MCU) to convert IO data. The system on a chip includes a central processing unit (CPU) in an initial inactive state, which may be changed to an activated state in response an activation signal.