Principle:Apache Spark Cluster Installation
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Domains | Deployment, Infrastructure |
| Type | Principle |
| Related | Implementation:Apache_Spark_Distribution_Placement |
Overview
A deployment pattern that ensures identical software installations across all nodes in a distributed cluster through synchronized file placement and SSH-based management.
Description
Distributed systems require identical software deployments on every cluster node. The cluster installation pattern uses a shared-nothing architecture where each node has its own copy of the software at an identical filesystem path. Nodes are enumerated in a configuration file and managed via SSH for coordinated operations.
The key properties of this pattern are:
- Homogeneous deployment -- every node in the cluster runs the same software version at the same filesystem location
- Inventory-driven management -- a central configuration file (the cluster manifest) enumerates all participating nodes
- SSH-based coordination -- the master node orchestrates operations on workers through secure shell connections
- Shared-nothing storage -- each node maintains its own independent copy of the software, avoiding shared filesystem dependencies
Usage
Use when deploying a Spark standalone cluster on bare-metal or VMs where each node needs the same Spark distribution. This pattern applies to:
- Initial cluster setup -- placing the Spark distribution on all nodes for the first time
- Version upgrades -- rolling out a new Spark version across the cluster
- Node expansion -- adding new worker nodes to an existing cluster
Theoretical Basis
The installation pattern follows symmetric node deployment logic:
for each node in cluster_manifest:
ensure(software_at_path) AND ensure(ssh_connectivity)
The conf/workers file acts as a cluster inventory, defining the set of machines that participate in the cluster. This approach provides:
- Idempotency -- running the deployment process multiple times produces the same result
- Verifiability -- each node can be independently checked for correct installation
- Scalability -- adding nodes requires only appending to the inventory and replicating the software
| Component | Role |
|---|---|
| conf/workers | Cluster inventory file listing all worker hostnames |
| SPARK_HOME | Canonical filesystem path for the Spark installation on every node |
| SSH keys | Authentication mechanism for passwordless master-to-worker communication |