Abstract: On a computer cluster, a distributed object, called a console, manages all interactions with users and manages error reporting. The console provides a simple synchronous call interface that does not use any network semantics. This allows all layers of the software to use the console. User interaction and error reporting is enhanced by an error stack, included in the console. The error stack can be maintained on a per client context basis. When an error occurs, each layer of software can add details to the error stack. The result is the relaying meaningful error messages to the user.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for configuring a software application on a cluster is provided. A configuration coordinator executing on a configuration manager communicates with one or more configuration slaves executing on a set of nodes that are operating as a cluster. The configuration coordinator sends messages to the one or more configuration slaves to initiate a configuration operation for a software application. Each configuration slave automatically performs a series of actions to configure the node on which it resides. When all the nodes complete the configuration operation for the software, the process is complete. While performing the series of actions, the configuration slaves generate logs that reflect their progress in performing the series of actions. If a problem occurs during performance of the series of actions, the configuration slave that encounters the problem indicates to the configuration coordinator that an error occurred.