Background Reading: Creating a Cluster-Aware Application

A cluster-aware application includes calls to the Cluster Service using the Cluster API. The Cluster API allows an application to retrieve information about cluster objects, to initiate operations, and to update information in the cluster database.

    To create a cluster-aware application

1. Gain a thorough understanding of Cluster Control Codes. The cluster control codes allow you to call one of four Cluster API functions to perform a multitude of different operations. Whereas most of the Cluster API functions are designed to perform a single task, ClusterResourceControl, ClusterResourceTypeControl, ClusterGroupControl, and ClusterNodeControl are designed to perform any task that is represented by a control code.
2. Use the Cluster Structures reference to learn how to parse the structures that hold properties and other information.
3. Refer to the relevant portions of the Cluster API for making calls to the Cluster Service:

   Cluster Management Functions discusses functions for accessing the cluster as a whole.

   Node Management Functions discusses functions for accessing cluster nodes.

   Group Management Functions discusses functions for accessing cluster groups.

   Resource Management Functions discusses functions for accessing resources.

   Cluster Database Management Functions discusses functions for accessing the cluster database.

4. Read Using the Cluster Database to understand the purpose and structure of the cluster database and to discover how to access it.