Resources are hardware or software entities that make up the application. Disk groups and file systems, network interface cards (NIC), IP addresses, and applications are a few examples of resources.

Resource dependencies indicate resources that depend on each other because of application or operating system requirements. Resource dependencies are graphically depicted in a hierarchy, also called a tree, where the resources higher up (parent) depend on the resources lower down (child).

Figure: Sample resource dependency graph shows the hierarchy for a database application.

Resource dependencies determine the order in which resources are brought online or taken offline. For example, you must import a disk group before volumes in the disk group start, and volumes must start before you mount file systems. Conversely, you must unmount file systems before volumes stop, and volumes must stop before you deport disk groups.

A parent is brought online after each child is brought online, and this continues up the tree, until finally the application starts. Conversely, to take a managed application offline, VCS stops resources by beginning at the top of the hierarchy. In this example, the application stops first, followed by the database application. Next the IP address and file systems stop concurrently. These resources do not have any resource dependency between them, and this continues down the tree.

Child resources must be brought online before parent resources are brought online. Parent resources must be taken offline before child resources are taken offline. If resources do not have parent-child interdependencies, they can be brought online or taken offline concurrently.