Methods and apparatus using commutative error detection values for fault isolation in multiple node computers

Patent · Tue Jun 03 00:00:00 EDT 2008

OSTI ID:983062

Almasi, Gheorghe ^[1]; Blumrich, Matthias Augustin ^[2]; Chen, Dong ^[3]; Coteus, Paul ^[4]; Gara, Alan ^[5]; Giampapa, Mark E ^[6]; Heidelberger, Philip ^[7]; Hoenicke, Dirk I ^[8]; Singh, Sarabjeet ^[9]; Steinmacher-Burow, Burkhard D ^[10]; Takken, Todd ^[11]; Vranas, Pavlos ^[12]

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1. Ardsley, NY
2. Ridgefield, CT
3. Croton-On-Hudson, NY
4. Yorktown, NY
5. Mount Kisco, NY
6. Irvington, NY
7. Cortlandt Manor, NY
8. Ossining, NY
9. Mississauga, CA
10. Wernau, DE
11. Brewster, NY
12. Bedford Hills, NY

Methods and apparatus perform fault isolation in multiple node computing systems using commutative error detection values for--example, checksums--to identify and to isolate faulty nodes. When information associated with a reproducible portion of a computer program is injected into a network by a node, a commutative error detection value is calculated. At intervals, node fault detection apparatus associated with the multiple node computer system retrieve commutative error detection values associated with the node and stores them in memory. When the computer program is executed again by the multiple node computer system, new commutative error detection values are created and stored in memory. The node fault detection apparatus identifies faulty nodes by comparing commutative error detection values associated with reproducible portions of the application program generated by a particular node from different runs of the application program. Differences in values indicate a possible faulty node.

• Research Organization: International Business Machines Corp., Armonk, NY (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-48
• Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation (Armonk, NY)
• Patent Number(s): 7,383,490
• Application Number: 11/106,069
• OSTI ID: 983062
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING