Abstract: An initial node deployment to form a cluster involves execution of program code to begin discovering other nodes on a LAN that will constitute the cluster. A node initially starts processes to obtain information to transition from an unconfigured state to a configured state. The nodes on the LAN can execute a discovery process that facilitates forming and configuring of the cluster, but the discovered information is confined within the LAN. This effectively blocks cluster configuration until someone locally connects to a host and retrieves a node address. To remove this obstacle, a node image can include program code to detect a compliant target device and extract to the target device an address of a discovered node that is valid for remote cluster configuration. The target device can then be used to convey the extracted address to allow commencement of cluster configuration remotely.

Abstract: An initial node deployment to form a cluster involves execution of program code to begin discovering other nodes on a LAN that will constitute the cluster. A node initially starts processes to obtain information to transition from an unconfigured state to a configured state. The nodes on the LAN can execute a discovery process that facilitates forming and configuring of the cluster, but the discovered information is confined within the LAN. This effectively blocks cluster configuration until someone locally connects to a host and retrieves a node address. To remove this obstacle, a node image can include program code to detect a compliant target device and extract to the target device an address of a discovered node that is valid for remote cluster configuration. The target device can then be used to convey the extracted address to allow commencement of cluster configuration remotely.

Abstract: A system and method for implementing distributed data storage. In particular, the system includes a plurality of virtualization servers, each of which is associated with available data resources. Each virtualization server supports one or more application virtual machines through a virtualization layer. In addition, a plurality of storage virtual machines is included in the system. Each storage virtual machine is associated with a corresponding and participating virtualization server. A virtual storage pool is included in the system, wherein each storage virtual machine allows the export and aggregation of available data resources within a corresponding virtualization server into the virtual storage pool.

Abstract: A system and method for implementing distributed data storage. In particular, the system includes a plurality of virtualization servers, each of which is associated with available data resources. Each virtualization server supports one or more application virtual machines through a virtualization layer. In addition, a plurality of storage virtual machines is included in the system. Each storage virtual machine is associated with a corresponding and participating virtualization server. A virtual storage pool is included in the system, wherein each storage virtual machine allows the export and aggregation of available data resources within a corresponding virtualization server into the virtual storage pool.