Fault-Tolerant Computing: Fundamental Concepts

  • Authors:
  • Victor P. Nelson

  • Affiliations:
  • Auburn Univ., Auburn, AL

  • Venue:
  • Computer
  • Year:
  • 1990

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Abstract

The basic concepts of fault-tolerant computing are reviewed, focusing on hardware. Failures, faults, and errors in digital systems are examined, and measures of dependability, which dictate and evaluate fault-tolerance strategies for different classes of applications, are defined. The elements of fault-tolerance strategies are identified, and various strategies are reviewed. They are: error detection, masking, and correction; error detection and correction codes; self-checking logic; module replication for error detection and masking; protocol and timing checks; fault containment; reconfiguration and repair; and system recovery.