Method of increasing system availability by assigning process pairs to processor pairs

Abstract

Processors are assigned in a multiprocessor environment to a plurality of processes that are executed in the multiprocessor environment. Each process has a process pair defined by a primary process that executes on a first processor and a backup process that executes on a second processor. The processors are in communication with one another via a communication network. The plurality of processors are organized into predefined processor pairs. Every process pair is assigned to one of the processor pairs, wherein no process pairs span across different processor pairs.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method of assigning processors in a multiprocessor environment to a plurality of processes that are executed in the multiprocessor environment, each process having a process pair defined by a primary process that executes on a first processor and a backup process that executes on a second processor, the processors being in communication with one another via a communication network, the method comprising: 
 (a) organizing the plurality of processors into predefined processor pairs; and    (b) assigning every process pair to one of the processor pairs, wherein no process pairs span across different processor pairs.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the assignment occurs in a non-random manner.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 (c) executing the primary process and the backup process with similar code;  
 (d) causing the backup process to become the primary process if the primary process fails, the backup process resuming operation of the process.  
 
     
     
         4 . A method of assigning processors in a multiprocessor environment to a plurality of processes that are executed in the multiprocessor environment, each process having a process pair defined by an active primary process that executes on a first processor and an additional active process that executes on a second processor, the processors being in communication with one another via a communication network, the method comprising: 
 (a) organizing the plurality of processors into predefined processor pairs; and    (b) assigning every process pair to one of the processor pairs, wherein no process pairs span across different processor pairs.    
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4  wherein the assignment occurs in a non-random manner.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4  further comprising: 
 (c) executing the active primary process and the additional active process with similar code;  
 (d) causing the additional active process to become the primary process if the active primary process fails, the additional active process resuming operation of the process.  
 
     
     
         7 . A method of assigning processors in a multiprocessor environment to a plurality of processes that are executed in the multiprocessor environment, each process having a process group defined by one or more primary processes that execute on one or more respective processors and one or more backup processes that execute on one or more respective processors, the processors being in communication with one another via a communication network, the method comprising: 
 (a) organizing the plurality of processors into predefined processor groups; and    (b) assigning every process group to one of the processor groups, wherein no process group spans across different processor groups.    
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the assignment occurs in a non-random manner.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7  further comprising: 
 (c) executing the one or more primary processes and the one or more backup processes with similar code;  
 (d) causing at least one of the backup processes to become a primary process if a primary process fails, the backup process resuming operation of the process.  
 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the one or more respective processors that execute the primary process are different processors, and the one or more respective processors that execute the backup process are different processors.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the process group is a process pair.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the one or more backup processes execute on one or more additional processors.