| Joining a Cluster
Following a restart of a system, the cluster service is started automatically. The system configures and mounts local, non-shared devices. Cluster-wide devices must be left offline while booting because another node may be using them. The system uses a ‘discovery’ process to find the other members of the cluster. When the system discovers any member of the cluster, it performs an authentication sequence. The existing cluster member authenticates the newcomer and returns a status of success if everything checks out. If the node is not recognized as a member, or the password is wrong, then the request to join is refused. The database in the arriving node is checked and if it is out of date, it is sent an updated copy. The joining system can now use this shared database to find shared resources and to bring them online as needed.
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