Maintenance Processors for Mainframe Computers

Article Abstract:

Specialized computers called maintenance processors watch a main computer to achieve fault tolerance by checking on operation, supervising instruction retries after errors, and reconfiguring a multiprocessor system to deal with persistent errors. The system support facility (SSF) for the Honeywell DPS 88 is a freestanding maintenance processor, while the controller for the IBM 3081 is built into the processor complex. A maintenance processor is concurrently connected through adapters to the processor and its peripherals. Once a fault has been detected, the maintenance processor will perform an instruction retry for recovery from transient faults and possibly system reconfiguration for solid faults in a multiprocessor system. In addition to recovering from the fault, the maintenance processor can poll, collect, and display system status on consoles. Complex maintenance processors are not cost-effective for small computer systems. Fault tolerance is defined in terms of reliability, availability, and serviceability (RAS). Included in the article are block diagrams of a typical maintenance processor and specific systems for the DPS 88, the IBM 3081, and the Sperry 1100-60.

Maintenance, Self repair capability, Hardware Maintenance, Error Recovery, Error Checking, Failure, Self-Repair Capability, Facility Maintenance, Fault Tolerance, Fault tolerant computer systems

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Large Computers Make Advances

Article Abstract:

Mainframe computers and minicomputers are becoming more advanced right along with the growth of microcomputers. Fault-tolerant computers with redundancy, self-detection, and self-repair are rising in popularity. Supercomputers and 32-bit superminicomputers are advancing. Development will be in standardization, ease of use, compatibility, and general performance improvements. Superminicomputers offer capabilities of minicomputers with many terminals, each with its own processor, linked as a system. Advanced electronic system design tools are also becoming available.

Product development, Technology, Supercomputers, Supercomputer, Minicomputers, Computer Systems, evaluation, Minicomputer, 32-Bit

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