Failure resistant multiple computer system and method

• US 7,849,369 B2
• Filed: 10/18/2006
• Issued: 12/07/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/25/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Waratek Limited (Waratek Holdings Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Waratek Pty Limited
• Inventors: Holt, John Matthew
• Primary Examiner(s): GUYTON, PHILIP A
• Application Number:
  US11/583,351
• Publication Number:
  US 20070174734A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,511 Days
• Field of Search: 714/3, 714/48, 709/248, 718/1
• US Class Current: 714/48
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1484 involving virtual machines
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1666 where the redundant component is memory or memory area
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2094 Redundant storage or storage space G06F11/2056 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2201/82 Solving problems relating to consistency ensuring consistency in mirrored systems G06F11/2064

Abstract

The updating of only some memory locations in a multiple computer environment in which at least one applications program (50) executes simultaneously on a plurality of computers M1, M2 . . . Mn each of which has a local memory, is disclosed. Memory locations (A, B, D, E, X) in said local memory are categorized into two groups. The first group of memory locations (X1, X2, . . . Xn, A1, A2, . . . An) are each present in other computers. The second group of memory locations (B, E) are each present only in the computer having the local memory including the memory location. Changes to the contents of memory locations in the first group only are transmitted to all other computers. A computer failure detection mechanism is disclosed to prevent updating of any first group memory locations of any failed computer.

Claims

1. A failure resistant method of operating a plurality of computers each with their corresponding independent local memory which is unable to be accessed by any other of said computers, each of said computers substantially simultaneously operating a corresponding portion of an application program written to execute on only a single computer, and each being connected via a communications network to permit updating of corresponding memory locations, said method comprising the steps of:

(i) satisfying all read requests made by any one of said computers by only reading the independent local memory of the computer making the read request, wherein the independent local memory of the computer making the read request is unable to be accessed by any other of said computers,

(ii) categorizing the memory locations of said local memories into a first reachability category in which the local memory locations are replicated as to contents stored in the memory locations in selected ones, or all, of said computers and therefore require updating via said communications network with changes to corresponding memory locations of the other computers to maintain substantial memory coherence, and into a second category in which the local memory locations are not replicated and are present only in the local computer and therefore no updating is required,

(iii-a) detecting failure of any one of said multiple computers, and

(iii-b) modifying said first category to remove therefrom, if present, any reference to the failed computer,

wherein no attempt is made to update any first category locations of said failed computer.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1 including the further step of,

(iv-a) maintaining data regarding said memory locations categorization in a reachability table.

3. The method as claimed in claim 2 including the further step of:

(v-a) maintaining a single said reachability table on a server computer not forming one of said multiple computers and connected thereto via said communications network.

4. The method as claimed in claim 2 including the further step of:

(v) maintaining a multiplicity of reachability tables, each on a corresponding one of said multiple computers.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1 including the further step of:

(iv) detecting failure by at least one of the group of failure detection modes consisting of power supply failure, communication link failure, failure to respond to interrogation, and failure to regularly report as expected.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said memory locations include an asset, structure or resource.

7. A computer program product comprising a set of program instructions stored in a storage medium and operable to permit a plurality of computers to carry out the method claimed in claim 1.

8. The computer program product as claimed in claim 7, wherein the local memory is unable to be accessed by other computers and all read requests by the computer making the read request are satisfied locally from the local independent memory.

9. A multiplicity of computers interconnected via a communications network and operable to ensure carrying out of the method as claimed in claim 1.

10. The multiplicity of computers as claimed in claim 9, wherein the local memory is unable to be accessed by other computers and all read requests by the computer making the read request are satisfied locally from the local independent memory.

11. A single computer adapted to co-operate with at least one like other computer in order to carry out the method as claimed in claim 1.

12. A single computer as claimed in claim 11, wherein the local memory is unable to be accessed by other computers and all read requests by the computer making the read request are satisfied locally from the local independent memory.

13. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the local memory is unable to be accessed by other computers and all read requests by the computer making the read request are satisfied locally from the local independent memory.

14. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the updating via said communications network with changes to corresponding memory locations of the other computers to maintain substantial memory coherence comprises writing to the corresponding memory locations of the other computers to maintain substantial memory coherence.

15. A method as in claim 1, wherein:

said local memory(ies) of each said computer are independent of said local memory(ies) of each other computer and each said computer has a local processor that may only access said local memory(ies) of the same computer in which the local processor is located;

at least a first application program written to operate on a single one of said computers, is operating substantially simultaneously on different ones of said multiple computers;

said application program operating substantially simultaneously on each of said different ones of said computers, may only access said local memory(ies) of the same computer;

said access is satisfied by said local memory(ies) of the same computer independently of (or without the aid of) said local memory(ies) of any other computer;

said access includes reading and/or writing content or values stored or resident within said local memory(ies) of the same computer, or said access is restricted to reading and/or writing content or values stored or resident within said local memory(ies) of the same computer;

said access includes reading and/or writing content or values of real or virtual memory addresses of or resident within said local memory(ies) of the same computer, or said access is restricted to reading and/or writing content or values of real or virtual memory addresses of or resident within said local memory(ies) of the same computer;

at least one memory location and/or memory value of said application program is substantially similarly replicated in said local memory(ies) of said different ones of said plurality of computers;

said substantially similarly replicated memory location(s) and/or value(s) are stored non-identically in said local memory(ies) of said different ones of said plurality of computers;

said substantially similarly replicated memory location(s) and/or memory value(s) are updated through in-due-course updating to remain substantially similar upon occasion of any one of said plurality of computers simultaneously operating said application program modifying, or causing to be modified, the value(s) or content(s) of said substantially similarly replicated memory location(s) and/or memory value(s);

each said substantially similarly replicated memory location(s) and/or value(s) of each one of said multiple computers is identified with a substantially similar identifier; and

said in-due-course updating provides that said replicated memory locations are updated to remain substantially similar upon occasion of any one of said computers simultaneously operating said application program causing modification of the contents of said replicated memory location.

16. A failure resistant multiple computer system in which a plurality of computers each has a corresponding independent local memory which is unable to be accessed by any other of said computers, each of said computers simultaneously operates a corresponding portion of an application program written to be executed only on a single computer, and each is connected via a communications network to permit updating of corresponding memory locations, said system including:

a local memory independence means associated with each said local memory to satisfy all read requests from the local memory of the computer making the read request,

a reachability means to categorize memory locations of said local memories into a first category in which the local memory locations are replicated as to contents stored in the memory locations in selected ones, or all, of said computers and therefore require updating via said communications network with changes to corresponding memory locations of other computers, to maintain substantial memory coherence, and into a second category in which the local memory locations are not replicated and are present only in the local computer and therefore no updating is required, and wherein said system further includes;

a failure detection means connected to each said computer to detect failure of any one of said multiple computers, and

a reachability modifier connected to said failure detection means and to said reachability means to modify said reachability means by modifying said first category to remove therefrom, if present, any reference by the failed computer whereby no attempt is made to update any first category memory locations of said failed computer,

wherein the local memory independence means is unable to be accessed by other computers and all read requests by the computer making the read request are satisfied locally from the local independent memory.

17. The system as claimed in claim 16 wherein said reachability means comprises a reachability table in which is maintained data regarding said memory location classification.

18. The system as claimed in claim 17 and including a server computer connected to said communications network, said server computer including a single reachability table.

19. The system as claimed in claim 17 wherein each of said multiple computers includes a corresponding reachability table.

20. The system as claimed in claim 16 wherein said failure detection means is selected from the group consisting of power supply failure detectors, communication link failure detectors, interrogation response failure detectors, and regular reporting failure detectors.

21. The system as claimed in claim 16 wherein said memory locations include an asset, structure or resource.

22. A single computer adapted to co-operate with at least one other like computer to form the multiple computer system as claimed in claim 16.

23. A single computer as claimed in claim 22, wherein the local memory is unable to be accessed by other computers and all read requests by the computer making the read request are satisfied locally from the local independent memory.

24. A system as in claim 16, wherein:

said local memory(ies) of each said computer are independent of said local memory(ies) of each other computer and each said computer has a local processor that may only access said local memory(ies) of the same computer in which the local processor is located;

at least a first application program written to operate on a single one of said computers, is operating substantially simultaneously on different ones of said multiple computers;

said application program operating substantially simultaneously on each of said different ones of said computers, may only access said local memory(ies) of the same computer;

said access is satisfied by said local memory(ies) of the same computer independently of (or without the aid of) said local memory(ies) of any other computer;

said access includes reading and/or writing content or values stored or resident within said local memory(ies) of the same computer, or said access is restricted to reading and/or writing content or values stored or resident within said local memory(ies) of the same computer;

said access includes reading and/or writing content or values of real or virtual memory addresses of or resident within said local memory(ies) of the same computer, or said access is restricted to reading and/or writing content or values of real or virtual memory addresses of or resident within said local memory(ies) of the same computer;

at least one memory location and/or memory value of said application program is substantially similarly replicated in said local memory(ies) of said different ones of said plurality of computers;

said substantially similarly replicated memory location(s) and/or value(s) are stored non-identically in said local memory(ies) of said different ones of said plurality of computers;

said substantially similarly replicated memory location(s) and/or memory value(s) are updated through in-due-course updating to remain substantially similar upon occasion of any one of said plurality of computers simultaneously operating said application program modifying, or causing to be modified, the value(s) or content(s) of said substantially similarly replicated memory location(s) and/or memory value(s);

each said substantially similarly replicated memory location(s) and/or value(s) of each one of said multiple computers is identified with a substantially similar identifier; and

said in-due-course updating provides that said replicated memory locations are updated to remain substantially similar upon occasion of any one of said computers simultaneously operating said application program causing modification of the contents of said replicated memory location.

25. A failure resistant method of operating a plurality of computers, the method comprising:

configuring each of said plurality of computers with their own corresponding independent local memory so that each independent local memory is unable to be accessed by any other ones of said plurality of computers and all read requests from each said computer are satisfied from the local memory of the computer making the read request;

operating on each of said computers substantially simultaneously a corresponding portion of an application program written to execute on only a single computer;

connecting each of said plurality of computers via a communications network to permit updating of corresponding memory locations in the local memory of each of the plurality of computers;

categorizing the memory locations of said local memories into;

(a) a first reachability category in which the local memory locations are replicated as to contents stored in the memory locations in selected ones, or all, of said computers and therefore require updating via said communications network with changes to corresponding memory locations of the other computers to maintain substantial memory coherence; and

(b) a second category in which the local memory locations are not replicated and are present only in the local computer and therefore no updating is required;

detecting failure of any one of said plurality of computers; and

modifying said first reachability category to remove therefrom, if present, any reference to the failed computer, and making no attempt to update any first reachability category memory locations of said failed computer.

26. The method as claimed in claim 25, further comprising:

not modifying said first reachability category to remove any reference to any non-failed computer, and updating said first reachability category memory locations of said non-failed computer when a memory location is modified or written to.

27. The method as claimed in claim 25, wherein the method further comprises:

replicating the local memory locations as to contents stored in the memory locations in selected ones, or all, of said computers; and

updating via said communications network said replicating the local memory locations with changes to corresponding memory locations of the other computers to maintain substantial memory coherence among said plurality of computers.

28. A single computer adapted to co-operate with at least one like other computer in order to carry out the method as claimed in claim 25.

29. The method as claimed in claim 25, wherein the local memory is unable to be accessed by other computers and all read requests by the computer making the read request are satisfied locally from the local independent memory.

30. A failure resistant multiple computer system comprising:

a plurality of computers each having a corresponding independent local memory which is unable to be accessed by any other of said computers, and each of said computers configured to simultaneously operate a corresponding different portion of an application program written to be executed only on a single computer;

each said computer being connected to each other computer via a communications network to permit updating of corresponding memory locations;

a local memory independence means associated with each said local memory to satisfy all read requests from the local memory of the computer making the read request,

a reachability means to categorize memory locations of said local memories into;

(a) a first category in which the local memory locations are replicated as to contents stored in the memory locations in selected ones, or all, of said computers and therefore require updating via said communications network with changes to corresponding memory locations of other computers, to maintain substantial memory coherence; and

(b) a second category in which the local memory locations are not replicated and are present only in the local computer and therefore no updating is required;

a failure detection means connected to each said computer to detect failure of any one of said plurality of computers, and

a reachability modifier connected to said failure detection means and to said reachability means to modify said reachability means by modifying said first category to remove therefrom, if present, any reference by the failed computer and making no attempt to update any first reachability category memory locations of said failed computer,

wherein the local memory is unable to be accessed by other computers and all read requests by the computer making the read request are satisfied locally from the local independent memory.

31. The system as claimed in claim 30, wherein said reachability modifier connected to said failure detection means and to said reachability means is configured for and operative to not modify said first reachability category to remove any reference to any non-failed computer, and updating said first reachability category memory locations of said non-failed computer when a memory location is modified or written to.

32. The system as claimed in claim 30, wherein the system further comprises:

memory replication means for replicating the local memory locations as to contents stored in the memory locations in selected ones, or all, of said computers; and

updating means for updating said replicated memory locations via said communications network said replicating the local memory locations with changes to corresponding memory locations of the other computers to maintain substantial memory coherence among said plurality of computers.

33. A single computer adapted to co-operate with at least one other like computer to form the multiple computer system as claimed in claim 30.