Multiple computer system with dual mode redundancy architecture
First Claim
1. A dual computer system comprising a first computer having an application program which is intolerant of computer failure, a second computer connected thereto to mirror said first computer, said second computer having a replica of said application program and having memory locations which replicate those of said first computer, and said computer system having updating means to update said second computer memory locations with changes to the contents or values of the corresponding memory locations of said first computer.
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Abstract
An architecture for multiple computer systems which incorporates redundancy is disclosed. For each group of “n” first computers M1/1, M2/1, . . . Mn/1, a second “mirror” group of computers M1/2, M2/2 . . . Mn/2 is provided. Changes to the memory locations of each computer of the first group are communicated to the corresponding computers of the second group to update a replicated memory. Memory locations (A/1, B/1, C/1) stored on one machine (M2/1) and the mirror machine (M1/2) are stored on both the hierarchically adjacent machines M1/2, M2/2 and maintained updated. In the event of the failure of one machine, the mirror machine has the memory locations of the failed machine and is able to resume or take over the computational tasks of the failed machine thereby providing a first measure of redundancy. In the event of failure of both a first group machine and its mirror machine, the hierarchically adjacent mirror machine is able to resume or take over.
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Citations
21 Claims
- 1. A dual computer system comprising a first computer having an application program which is intolerant of computer failure, a second computer connected thereto to mirror said first computer, said second computer having a replica of said application program and having memory locations which replicate those of said first computer, and said computer system having updating means to update said second computer memory locations with changes to the contents or values of the corresponding memory locations of said first computer.
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6. A method of operating a dual computer system, said method comprising the steps of:
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(i) providing or operating a first computer; (ii) loading into said first computer an application program which is written to operate on only a single (first) computer, and which is intolerant of failure of said first computer; (iii) connecting a second computer to said first computer; (iv) loading a replica of said application program in said second computer; (v) replicating at least one memory location of said first computer in said second computer; and (vi) updating changes in the content or value of said memory location(s) of said first computer to the corresponding memory location(s) of said second computer. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A computer program stored in a computer readable media, the computer program including executable computer program instructions and adapted for execution by at least one computer in a dual computer system to modify the operation of at least one computer in the dual computer system;
- the modification of operation including performing a method of operating a dual computer system, said method comprising the steps of;
(i) operating or enabling operation of a first computer; (ii) loading into said first computer an application program which is written to operate on only a single (first) computer, and which is intolerant of failure of said first computer; (iii) connecting or enabling connecting a second computer to said first computer; (iv) loading a replica of said application program in said second computer; (v) replicating at least one memory location of said first computer in said second computer; and (vi) updating changes in the content or value of said memory location(s) of said first computer to the corresponding memory location(s) of said second computer.
- the modification of operation including performing a method of operating a dual computer system, said method comprising the steps of;
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12. A method of storing data in a multiple computer system comprising a plurality of computers each having a local memory and each being interconnected to the other computers via a communications network, said method comprising the steps of:
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(i) partitioning the local memory of each computer into two compartments, (ii) for each computer storing data created by, or required for, the operation of said computer firstly in a compartment in said computer, and secondly in a compartment of one other computer, and (iii) updating changes in content or value in said stored data at both said compartments, whereby in the event of failure of only one of said computers said stored and updated data is available in the remaining computers. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A computer program stored in a computer readable media, the computer program including executable computer program instructions and adapted for execution by at least one computer in a multiple computer system to modify the operation of at least one computer in the multiple computer system;
- the modification of operation including performing a method of storing data in a multiple computer system comprising a plurality of computers each having a local memory and each being interconnected to the other computers via a communications network, said method comprising the steps of;
(i) partitioning the local memory of each computer into two compartments; (ii) for each computer storing data created by, or required for, the operation of said computer firstly in a compartment in said computer, and secondly in a compartment of one other computer; and (iii) updating changes in content or value in said stored data at both said compartments; whereby in the event of failure of only one of said computers said stored and updated data is available in the remaining computers.
- the modification of operation including performing a method of storing data in a multiple computer system comprising a plurality of computers each having a local memory and each being interconnected to the other computers via a communications network, said method comprising the steps of;
Specification