Spare capacity as a means of fault detection and diagnosis in multiprocessor systems

Journal Article · Thu Jun 01 04:00:00 EDT 1989 · IEEE Trans. Comput.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1109/12.24300· OSTI ID:5805510

Dahbura, A T; Sabnani, K K

A technique is described for detecting and diagnosing faults at the processor level in a multiprocessor system. In this method, a process is assigned whenever possible to two processors: the processor that it would normally be assigned to (primary) and an additional processor which would otherwise be idle (secondary). Two strategies are described and analyzed: one which is preemptive and another which is nonpreemptive. It is shown that for moderately loaded systems, a sufficient percentage of processes can be performed redundantly using the system's spare capacity to provide a basis for fault detection and diagnosis with virtually no degradation of response time. A multiprocessor is described which uses the approach for detecting faults at the processor level.

• Research Organization: 9522750
• OSTI ID: 5805510
• Journal Information: IEEE Trans. Comput.; (United States), Journal Name: IEEE Trans. Comput.; (United States) Vol. 38:6; ISSN ITCOB
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS
990210* -- Supercomputers-- (1987-1989)
ARRAY PROCESSORS
COMPUTERS
DATA ANALYSIS
DIGITAL COMPUTERS
FAULT TOLERANT COMPUTERS
PERFORMANCE