Information Processing System Power Failure Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing information processing systems face challenges in accurately determining the cause of downtime in information processing apparatuses, leading to potential data loss when attempting to recover from software errors, as they cannot differentiate between software errors and power failures, resulting in unreliable system recovery.
Innovation Solution
An information processing system with a third monitoring apparatus that determines the cause of downtime in two information processing apparatuses by analyzing power failure signals and operational status, allowing for accurate execution of machine recovery only when software errors are detected, thereby preventing data loss.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If machine recovery is executed without determining the cause of downtime, then system recovery speed is improved, but data loss risk increases due to power failure
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary determination of the downtime cause (power failure vs. software error) before executing machine recovery. The control apparatus checks the power failure determination result in advance, and only executes machine recovery when the cause is identified as a software error, not a power failure. This preliminary action prevents data loss while enabling recovery when appropriate.
2Reliability
If the system monitors power failure signals to prevent data loss, then data safety is improved, but the ability to execute recovery from software errors is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the parameter of recovery execution based on the determined cause of downtime. When the power failure determination result indicates a software error, the system enables machine recovery execution. When the result indicates a power failure, the system prevents recovery execution. This parameter change (conditional execution) allows the system to maintain data safety while preserving recovery capability for software errors.
3Measurement precision
If the system automatically determines downtime cause using power failure signals, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention introduces a power failure determination result as an intermediary that mediates between the power supply unit and the control apparatus. This intermediary component receives power failure signals from the power supply unit, processes them to determine the cause of downtime, and provides this determination result to the control apparatus. This intermediary simplifies the overall system architecture by centralizing the determination logic and providing a clear interface for recovery decision-making.
Data Source
AI summary
An information processing system includes first to third information processing apparatuses. The first information processing apparatus has a first memory with a cache region and outputs a first power failure signal on detecting a power failure. The second information processing apparatus includes a second memory with a mirror cache region that stores mirror data for the cache region and outputs a second power failure signal on detecting a power failure. The third information processing apparatus monitors the first and second information processing apparatuses and, when both apparatuses have stopped operating, determines whether there is a power failure at the first and second information processing apparatuses based on the first and second power failure signals. When there is no power failure at either apparatus, the first and second information processing apparatuses are restarted in a state where data of the first and second memories is held.