small-scale clustering

[Tom Metro]

Mark Woodward wrote:
> Two cheap computers, both well able to keep up with being
> "slash-dotted." A direct wire between the two of them for replication
> and synchronization. Full fail-over with a load balancer.

I'd be curious to hear more about this setup.

What are you using to implement replication and database synchronization?

Do you use any shared storage, or does each system have local disks and
rely on replication?

What are you using for a load balancer?

(Consider that if you could rent a load balancer "in the cloud" -
someplace with high reliability and redundant connections - cheaply
enough, you could then place each of your cheap computers on separate
cheap net connections, at separate locations, and achieve pretty good
redundancy for low cost. Of course replace "load balancer" with some
simple automation to update your DNS when the primary server becomes
unreachable, and you're pretty much there.)

Are you using virtualization?

 -Tom

-- 
Tom Metro
Venture Logic, Newton, MA, USA
"Enterprise solutions through open source."
Professional Profile: http://tmetro.venturelogic.com/