Products - "SafeCPU" OS9 CPU Redundancy Pack

    VMEbus technology has become a de-facto standard for implementation of control systems for mission critical applications. Such systems generally require multiple CPU's to be used in redundant mode so that they provide high availability. "SafeCPU" is an OS9 based software package, which will enable a developer to instantly make his application software run in redundant mode on dual CPU's.  

    The package consists of the following components:

1) The Heart Beat Module which establishes communication between the two VMEbus CPU's over the backplane. The standby CPU uses this module to detect the failure of the presently active CPU. This module also handles switching of applications from the failed  CPU to the healthy CPU.

2) The Data Mirroring Module is responsible for duplication of the master CPU's data on the standby CPU. This ensures that the standby CPU always failsover with the latest set of data acquired/processed by the master CPU thus ensuring a "bumpless" switchover.

3) The WatchDog Module performs the monitoring of the health of the software running on the master CPU. It checks if all the processes assigned to it are running and also checks if a particular process has overslept - a symptom of a deadlocked condition. Based on these observations it forces a CPU reset if any abnormal, unrecoverable and fatal error occurs on the master CPU thus resulting in a failover of all applications to the slave CPU.

    This product is synonymous to the "Clustering" technology available from Microsoft.  

    The developer need to configure the package with minimal information enabling the product to adapt itself to the developer's application. "SafeCPU" thus allows the developer concentrate on his application development rather than on implementing redundancy. 

Why "SafeCPU"

1) Allows instant implementation of CPU redundancy in VMEbus systems

2) Allows the user to concentrate on his application development rather than implementation of CPU redundancy

3) Tested, reliable off-the-shelf component for redundancy implementation 

4) "SafeCPU" is already in use in a mission critical Satellite application

5) Flexible, configurable design to allow usage in different kinds of applications

    The product is presently available for VMEbus systems running OS9 operating system and can be ported to other RTOS on request.