Abstract: A data processing network, a cluster controller, a data processing node, methods and computer program products are disclosed. The data processing network comprises: a cluster controller operable to store a plurality of configurations; and a cluster of data processing nodes, said cluster controller and said cluster of data processing nodes being operable to co-operate to make one of said plurality of configurations available as an allocated read-only configuration to each data processing node in said cluster, each data processing node being operable to boot-up using said configuration, said cluster controller and cluster of data processing nodes being further operable to co-operate to allocate a read/write storage area for each data processing node in said cluster for accessing data to be utilised during operation of that data processing node following boot-up.

Abstract: A method of establishing enablers of a relationship between a first entity and a second entity, a computer program product and relationship establishment unit operable to perform that method. The method comprises: determining a set of indications of primary relationship characteristics to define a generic relationship between the first entity and the second entity; expressing primary first entity relationship requirements and primary second entity relationship requirements in terms of the indications of primary relationship characteristics; assessing, based on common indications of primary relationship characteristics, whether commonality between the primary first entity relationship requirements and primary second entity relationship requirements passes a preselected threshold; and, if so, establishing enablers of a relationship between the first entity and said second entity based on the common indications of primary relationship characteristics.

Abstract: Systems and methods for run-time monitoring, tuning and optimization of distributed systems are provided. In various aspects, a system or method may include measuring run-time values for one or more performance metrics of the distributed system, such as, for example, task-latencies, process-throughputs, and the degree of utilization of various physical resources of the system. The system or method may further include comparing the measured run-time values with one or more target values assigned to the performance metrics, and, based on the comparison, adjusting one or more tunable run-time control variables of the distributed system, such as the number of the tasks, processes, and nodes executing in the distributed system.