Oracle International Corporation

John Leys

Prasad V Bagal

David Brower

Gilberto Arnaiz

Gary D Young

A method and apparatus for processing a write request at a storage device is provided. A write request that identifies a sender of the write request is received at a storage device. The write request is examined to determine the identity of the sender. A determination is made as to whether, within a hierarchical relationship, the sender is subordinate to any entity that has been designated as being unable to perform write requests at the storage device. Upon determining that (a) the sender is not subordinate to any entity that has been designated as being unable to perform write requests at the storage device, and (b) the sender has not been designated as being unable to perform write requests at the storage device, the sender is allowed to write to the storage device. Thereafter, the write request from the sender may be performed at the storage device.

Fencing using a hierarchical relationship

Techniques are provided for managing access to resources that are shared by a cluster of nodes. One aspect of the invention is to require verification that a quorum is a valid quorum prior to enforcing the access rights specified by a node that is a member of the group of nodes holding the quorum. Further, the verification that a quorum is a valid quorum prior to enforcing access rights occurs only if the quorum associated with the specified access rights is suspected to be invalid.

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Hayward, CA, United States of America

John Leys