What Is a Fault-Tolerant Computer?
A fault-tolerant computer is designed to continue operating in the event of hardware or software failures. It achieves resilience through redundancy, employing multiple hardware or software components with identical functions. Should a component fail, backup resources seamlessly assume its duties, preventing any interruption in service.
This system also includes fault detection mechanisms, enabling it to identify issues within its hardware or software swiftly. Upon detecting a failure, it automatically initiates corrective actions such as data reconstruction, self-diagnosis, and, if necessary, system rebooting to facilitate recovery.
Fault-tolerant computers are crucial in high-stakes environments like aerospace, medical equipment, and financial transaction systems, where uptime is paramount.