Abstract: A datagram messaging service for a distributed lock manager implemented on a clustered computer system including a plurality of processing nodes interconnected through a network. The messaging service establishes and maintains a plurality of virtual circuits between the processing nodes, a single virtual circuit connecting each pair of processing nodes within the clustered computer system. A distributed lock manager driver is included within each processing node, the driver including a communication service providing for the generation of datagrams comprising lock manager instructions for transmission to other processing nodes within the clustered computer system via said virtual circuits and also providing for the receipt of datagrams generated and transmitted by the other processing nodes.

Abstract: A method for redistributing the mastership of system resources among the processing nodes within the clustered computer system following a change in the system configuration, such as the failure of a processing node or the return to service of a failed processing node. The method includes the steps of: maintaining a set of hash buckets within each processing node; assigning each one of the resources to one of the hash buckets; and assigning a hash vector, determined through utilization of an N-way recursive algorithm, to each one of the hash buckets, each one of the hash vectors identifying the processing nodes within the clustered computer system in a predetermined sequence unique to the one of the hash buckets. Mastership of any system resource resides with the first processing node identified by the hash vector assigned to the hash bucket to which the system resource is assigned.