LifeKeeper Communications Manager (LCM)

The LifeKeeper Communication Manager (LCM) provides reliable communication between processes on one or more LifeKeeper for Windows servers. This process can use redundant communication paths between systems so that failure of a single communication path does not cause failure of LifeKeeper for Windows or its protected resources. The LCM supports a variety of communication alternatives including TCP/IP and shared disk connections.

The LCM provides the following:

• LifeKeeper for Windows Heartbeat. Periodic communication with other connected LifeKeeper for Windows systems to determine if the other systems are still functioning. LifeKeeper for Windows can detect any total system failure that is not detected by another means by recognizing the absence of the heartbeat signal.

• Administration Services. The administration functions of LifeKeeper for Windows use the LCM facilities to perform remote administration. This facility is used for single-point administration, configuration verification and sanity checking of administrative actions.

• Configuration and Status Communication. The LifeKeeper configuration database (LCD) tracks resource status, availability and configuration through the LCM facilities. These facilities allow the LCD to maintain consistent resource information between the primary and secondary systems.

• Failover Recovery. If a resource fails on a system, the LCM notifies LifeKeeper for Windows to recover the resource on a backup system.