On-line replacement of process pairs in a clustered processor architecture

Patent 6449733 Issued on September 10, 2002. Estimated Expiration Date:

December 7, 2018. Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.

Abstract Claims Description Full Text

Patent References

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Inventors

Assignee

Compaq Computer Corporation

Application

No. 206504 filed on 12/07/1998

US Classes:

714/13, Prepared backup processor (e.g., initializing cold backup) or updating backup processor (e.g., by checkpoint message)714/2, Fault recovery714/4, Of network714/8Isolating failed storage location (e.g., sector remapping)

Examiners

Primary: Wong, Peter S.
Assistant: Vo, Tim

Attorney, Agent or Firm

International Class

H02H 003/05

Abstract

In a multiple processing system or cluster, a pair of processes, assuming the role of a primary process and a backup process to the primary process, are replaced on-line by stopping the backup process; creating the replacement backup process; checking to ensure compatibility between the primary and replacement backup processes so that communication between them is possible and information sent by the primary process to the replacement will be correctly received and handled; providing the replacement backup process with that state of the primary process needed in order to take over the function and operation of the primary process; switching roles so that the replacement backup process now takes over the function and operation of the primary, and the primary becomes the backup; and repeating the steps of creating, checking, providing and switching, to conclude with a newly-installed replacement primary process and a replacement backup process, completing the on-line replacement of the process pair.