Software and methods for recovering a network node that has experienced a fault

Abstract

A method and system of recovering a system that has experienced a fault includes a backup device to enable access of a network through the interface in response to the fault. The system includes a main operational portion that controls operation of the system under normal conditions. However, if a fault occurs, then the backup device can be selected to take over control of the system so that data can be retrieved from a backup storage to recover the system. The backup device includes software and/or hardware components to enable the system to access a network even though the main operational portion may not be functioning properly.

1 .- 8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising a plurality of instructions which are configured to, when executed by a processor:
 receive an indication of a detected fault during a current post-boot operation of a system; and   effect recovery of the system at least partly in response to a user request by at least establishing data communication with a back-up apparatus, the back-up apparatus comprising at least replicated copy of data of the system, the user request prompted at least in part by the received indication;   wherein the plurality of instructions are configured to effect the recovery at least partially during the current-post boot operation in which the fault was detected.   
     
     
         10 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 9 , wherein the replicated copy of the data of the system comprises at least one software application. 
     
     
         11 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one software application comprises an application configured to, when executed, organize a plurality of data records containing personal information in digital form. 
     
     
         12 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 11 , wherein the plurality of data records comprise records communicated by the system to the back-up apparatus prior to the detected fault. 
     
     
         13 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one software application comprises a browser application configured to establish the data communication in response to the user request inputted via the browser application. 
     
     
         14 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 9 , wherein the fault comprises a hardware failure of a component of the system. 
     
     
         15 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 9 , wherein the effected recovery of the system is at least partly handled by an operating system of the system. 
     
     
         16 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising a plurality of instructions which are configured to, when executed by a processor:
 receive, from a system recovery manager, a user-initiated request to establish a network connection with a back-up apparatus, the back-up apparatus comprising at least a substantially identical copy of the software configuration of the system, where the user-initiated request was prompted at least in part to an post-BIOS operational fault experienced by a system;   cause establishment of the network connection; and   effect recovery of the system in response to the experienced post-BIOS operational fault via the established network connection, the effected recovery comprising at least a partial data transfer of the substantially identical copy of the software configuration over the established network connection;   wherein the effected recovery occurs at least partly during an operational period when the post-BIOS operational fault was experienced.   
     
     
         17 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 16 , wherein the substantially identical copy of the software configuration comprises at least one software application. 
     
     
         18 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 17 , wherein the at least one software application comprises an application configured to organize a plurality of digital data records. 
     
     
         19 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 18 , wherein the plurality of digital data records comprise records provided to the back-up apparatus prior to the experience post-BIOS operational fault. 
     
     
         20 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 17 , wherein the effected recovery further comprises at least data communication with an operating system of the system. 
     
     
         21 . A method for recovering from a system which has experienced a fault, comprising:
 detecting a fault relating to a system error during a post-BIOS operation of the system;   notifying a user of the system of the fault during the post-BIOS operation of the system; and   initiating a recovery operation of the system in response to a request by the user, the recovery operation at least partially occurring during the post-BIOS operation in which the fault was detected;   wherein the recovery operation comprises a data exchange with a back-up apparatus, the data exchange comprising data specific to and particularly associated with the system.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising storing an indication of the detected fault in the system. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the recovery operation is initiated by transmitting a command to perform the recovery operation the user request submitted via a browser. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising effecting the recovery operation through at least an operating system of the system. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the data specific to and associated with the system comprises data transferred to the back-up apparatus prior to detecting the fault. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the data exchange is effected using a network interface of the system in data communication with the back-up apparatus. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the detecting of a fault comprises determining that an operational element of the system is no longer responsive. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the detecting of a fault comprises determining that one or more software corruptions have occurred in the system.