Abstract:
A method for defining and managing a composite service group for a cluster based computer system is disclosed. The method includes instantiating a plurality of application units on a cluster based computer system, wherein the application units implement a business service. The method further includes receiving a composite service group definition, wherein a composite service group enumerates application units, out of the plurality of application units, that implement the business service, and generating a consolidated status of the composite service group. The business service is then started (online)/stopped (offline)/migrated/failed-over/failed-back in accordance with the consolidated status, as a single unit, by using the composite service group.