3.2. Overview of the Cluster Configuration Tool

The Cluster Configuration Tool (Figure 3-1) is a graphical user interface (GUI) for creating, editing, saving, and propagating the cluster configuration file, /etc/cluster/cluster.conf. The Cluster Configuration Tool is part of the Red Hat Cluster Suite management GUI, (the system-config-cluster package) and is accessed by the Cluster Configuration tab in the Red Hat Cluster Suite management GUI.

Figure 3-1. Cluster Configuration Tool

The Cluster Configuration Tool uses a hierarchical structure to show relationships among components in the cluster configuration. A triangle icon to the left of a component name indicates that the component has one or more subordinate components assigned to it. To expand or collapse the portion of the tree below a component, click the triangle icon.

The Cluster Configuration Tool represents the cluster configuration with the following components in the left frame:

WarningWarning
 

Do not manually edit the contents of the /etc/cluster/cluster.conf file without guidance from an authorized Red Hat representative or unless you fully understand the consequences of editing the /etc/cluster/cluster.conf file manually.

Figure 3-2 shows the hierarchical relationship among cluster configuration components. The cluster comprises cluster nodes. The cluster nodes are connected to one or more fencing devices. Nodes can be separated by failover domains to a cluster service. The services comprise managed resources such as NFS exports, IP addresses, and shared GFS partitions. The structure is ultimately reflected in the /etc/cluster/cluster.conf XML structure. The Cluster Configuration Tool provides a convenient way to create and manipulate the /etc/cluster/cluster.conf file.

Figure 3-2. Cluster Configuration Structure