Fault Tolerance

This classic text on the fundamentals of fault tolerance computing systems design is being reprinted, with revisions and updated references, in the Springer Series "Dependable Computing and Fault-Tolerant Systems". The early chapters cover the basic concepts of system structure, reliability and fault tolerance, followed by an overview of an illustrative selection of the most significant fault tolerant computers and their architectures. Subsequent chapters explore in detail the range of techniques available for the constituent phases of fault tol- erance, namely: error detection, damage confinement and assessment, error recovery, fault treatment and continued service. The important, but often neglected, topic of software-fault tolerance (i.e. tolerating bugs in programs) is also covered extensively. For each topic, an in-depth discussion of principles is illuminated by numerous practical examples. The book concludes with suggestions for a methodical approach to the design of fault tolerant systems. An annotated bibliography is supplemented by an extensive list of key references.