A Linux cluster is a group of independent Linux servers, called nodes, that work together as a single system to deliver higher availability, better performance, and improved reliability. Instead of relying on one server, workloads are distributed across multiple nodes so that if one fails, another can take over without service disruption.Linux clusters are widely used in web hosting, cloud platforms, databases, and enterprise applications where uptime and scalability are critical.
Cluster architecture defines how these nodes are organized and how they communicate. It typically includes compute nodes that run applications, a shared or replicated storage layer to keep data consistent, and a network layer for fast communication between nodes.On top of this, cluster management software like Pacemaker, Corosync, or Kubernetes monitors node health, manages resources, and handles failover automatically. This architecture ensures that applications remain available, data stays protected, and performance scales smoothly as demand grows.