:EETimes: Building Linux high-availability systems
EETimes: Building Linux high-availability systems May 12, 2000, 17 :29 UTC (0 Talkback[s]) (1857 reads) (Other stories by Brian Ramsey)
"The much-discussed convergence of separate voice, data and video into an integrated
network is creating a host of new product opportunities, many with carrier-class reliability
also known as high availability (HA). HA refers to maximizing the availability of systems
and applications by decreasing downtime during both routine maintenance operations and
unplanned system failures. While not guaranteeing 100 percent uptime, HA systems provide
substantial RAS (reliability, availability and serviceability) advantages over conventional
computer systems...."
"Leading system manufacturers-such as Force Computers Inc., Motorola
Computer Group and Radisys Corp. have developed
CompactPCI racks specifically for HA applications. These manufacturers are now looking at
Linux implementations in CPCI systems to enhance the cost-effectiveness of HA in
software. CPCI is a commercial bus, passive backplane, card and card-cage specification
with many features that make it ideal for high availability systems...."
"Commercial implementations of HA system software, like the open-source BlueCat HA
Linux from Lynx Real-time Systems, implement the features in a fault-management cycle
that describes and controls the actions necessary for dynamically reconfiguring the system
to scan errors caused by faults, or by processor failures."
