High-availability architecture using high-speed pipes

Abstract

Apparatus, system, and methods for a high availability computer system architecture using high-speed pipes are provided. An active computer system and a standby computer system are connected using a physical pipe for transferring data between the active computer system and the standby computer system. A first logical pipe is used for transferring data over the physical pipe, and a second logical pipe is used for transferring high-availability data over the physical pipe. Network-interface cards may be used to implement the high-speed pipes.

We claim:  
     
         1 . An apparatus for implementing a high-availability computer system architecture, comprising: 
 a physical pipe for transferring data between an active computer system and a standby computer system;    a first logical pipe for transferring data over the physical pipe; and    a second logical pipe for transferring high-availability data over the physical pipe.    
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the data transferred between the active computer system and the standby computer system on the first logical pipe comprises checkpointing data.  
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the high-availability data transferred between the active computer system and the standby computer system on the second logical pipe comprises total system state data of the active computer system.  
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the second logical pipe uses remote direct memory access write operations for transferring high-availability data.  
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the second logical pipe uses remote direct memory access read operations for transferring high-availability data.  
     
     
         6 . An apparatus for implementing a high-availability computer system architecture, comprising: 
 a physical pipe for transferring data between an active computer system and a standby computer system; and    a network interface card for transferring data and high-availability information over the physical pipe.    
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the data transferred between the active computer system and the standby computer system on the network interface card comprises checkpointing data.  
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the high-availability information transferred between the active computer system and the standby computer system on the network interface card comprises total system state data of the active computer system.  
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the second logical pipe uses remote direct memory access write operations for transferring high-availability data.  
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the second logical pipe uses remote direct memory access read operations for transferring high-availability data.  
     
     
         11 . A system for implementing a high-availability computer system architecture, comprising: 
 a physical pipe;    an active computer system for transferring data and high-availability information over the physical pipe; and    a standby computer system for receiving the high-availability information from the physical pipe.    
     
     
         12 . The system according to  claim 11 , wherein the active computer system further comprises: 
 an interface card for transferring the data and high-availability information.    
     
     
         13 . The system according to  claim 11 , wherein the standby computer system further comprises: 
 an interface card for receiving the high-availability information.    
     
     
         14 . A system for implementing a high-availability computer system architecture, comprising: 
 physical means for transferring data between an active computer system and a standby computer system;    a first logical means for transferring data over the physical means; and    a second logical means for transferring high-availability data over the physical means.    
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the data transferred between the active computer system and the standby computer system on the first logical means comprises checkpointing data.  
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the high-availability data transferred between the active computer system and the standby computer system on the second logical means comprises total system state data of the active computer system.  
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the second logical means uses remote direct memory access read and write operations for transferring high-availability data.  
     
     
         18 . An apparatus for implementing a high-availability computer system architecture, comprising: 
 a physical pipe for transferring data between an active computer system and a standby computer system;    a first logical pipe for transferring checkpointing data over the physical pipe; and    a second logical pipe for transferring total system state data over the physical pipe.    
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the second logical pipe uses remote direct memory access write operations for transferring total system state data over the physical pipe.  
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the second logical pipe uses remote direct memory access read operations for transferring total system state data over the physical pipe.  
     
     
         21 . A method in a high-availability computer system having an active computer system and a standby computer system, the method comprising the steps of: 
 sending a message to the standby computer system to enter a switch-over state;    monitoring a transfer complete marker;    transferring total system state from the active computer system to the standby computer system; and    switching from the active computer system to the standby computer system upon detecting the transfer complete marker.    
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the step of transferring total system state from the active computer system to the standby computer system, further includes the step of: 
 performing remote direct memory access read and write operations.    
     
     
         23 . A computer-readable medium containing instructions for performing a method in a high-availability computer system having an active computer system and a standby computer system, the method comprising the steps of: 
 sending a message to the standby computer system to enter a switch-over state;    monitoring a transfer complete-marker;    transferring total system state from the active computer system to the standby computer system; and    switching from the active computer system to the standby computer system upon detecting the transfer complete marker.    
     
     
         24 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 23 , wherein the step of transferring total system state from the active computer system to the standby computer system, further includes the step of: 
 performing remote direct memory access read and write operations.