C

Checkpoint Manager

Software component in the Cluster Service that is responsible for saving data in the log file maintained by the quorum resource.

Client application

Application software that is running on a network client system and does not necessarily perform name translation or establish connections.

Client/server model

Architecture that splits an application into a front-end client component and a back-end server component. The client component running on a workstation gathers data from the user, prepares it for the server, and issues a request to the server. On the back end, the server waits for requests from its clients. When it receives a request, the server processes it and returns the requested information to the client. The client then presents the data to the user through its own user interface.

Cluster

Two computer systems running Microsoft® Windows NT® Server that are accessed and managed as a single system.

Cluster Administrator

Cluster Server application that is used to manage and administer a cluster. Cluster Administrator can run on a client or server machine regardless of whether the machine is an active member of a cluster.

Cluster Administrator extension

Software component that implements the Cluster Administrator extension API for allowing Cluster Administrator to administer a new resource type.

Cluster API

Collection of functions that are implemented by the Cluster Service and used by a cluster-aware client or server application, a cluster management application, or a resource DLL. The Cluster API includes functions for managing the cluster as a whole, nodes, groups, resources, and the cluster database.

Cluster Automation Server

The library of COM-based interfaces that developers writing in Visual Basic and various scripting languages use to create cluster management applications.

Cluster-aware application

Server application that can run on a cluster node and be managed as a cluster resource.

Cluster member

A node that is an active participant of a cluster. A cluster member is in constant communication with the other members of the cluster and maintains a current version of the cluster database.

Cluster Service

Cluster Server software component implemented as a Microsoft® Windows NT® service that controls all aspects of cluster operation and manages the configuration database. Every node in a cluster runs one instance of the Cluster Service.

Cluster-unaware application

Client application that can run on a cluster node and be managed as a cluster resource, but has no inherent knowledge of its cluster environment. Client applications function the same regardless of whether they are running on a node in a cluster or on a non-clustered system.

Communications line

Physical connection by which information flows from the network into the computer. Examples are twisted-pair, coaxial, and fiber-optic cable.

Communications Manager

Software component in the Cluster Service that maintains communication between cluster members and blocks communication when a node fails.

Core Network Name Resource

The Network Name resource for the cluster.