System and method for the acceptance of operation with a partner in connection with core dump

摘要

A system and method for allowing more rapid takeover of a failed filer by a clustered takeover partner filer in the presence of a coredump procedure (e.g. a transfer of the failed filer's working memory) is provided. To save time, the coredump is allowed to occur contemporaneously with the takeover of the failed filer’s regular, active file service disks by the partner so that the takeover need not await completion of the coredump to begin. This is accomplished, briefly stated, by the following techniques. The coredump is written to a single disk that is not involved in regular file service, so that takeover of regular file services can proceed without interference from coredump. A reliable means for both filers in a cluster to identify the coredump disk is provided, which removes takeover dependence upon unreliable communications mechanisms.