Backup fault tolerant computer system
A parallel computer system is described having at least a first primary task performing means, a first secondary task performing means acting as a backup for the first primary task performing means, a second primary task performing means, a second secondary task performing means acting as a backup for the second primary task performing means, each of the task performing means having a task performing memory means, and a message bus means interconnecting the task performing means, the method of transferring messages among the task performing means. The system consists of: simultaneously sending on the message bus means a plurality of messages to the second primary task performing means and to the first and second secondary task performing means, each of the messages including a header, a body and an end of message indicator; the second primary task performing operating on the plurality of messages received from the first primary task performing means by initially storing the messages in a queue in its associated task performing memory means and thereafter sequentially reading the messages from the queue for processing in accordance with the task associated with the second primary task performing means; the second secondary task performing means only storing the plurality of messages received from the first primary task performing means in a corresponding queue of its associated task performing memory means unless instructed to process at least some of the messages as a result of the failure of the operation on at least one of the messages by the second primary task performing means; and the first secondary task performing means at least counting the number of messages of the plurality of messages received from the first primary task performing means.
- Assignee:
- Parallel Computers Systems, Inc., Fort Lee, NJ
- Patent Number(s):
- US 4590554
- OSTI ID:
- 5549944
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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