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From: dhepner@hpcuhc.cup.hp.com (Dan Hepner)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.hp
Subject: Re: Fault-tolerant HP-UX?
Message-ID: <530022@hpcuhc.cup.hp.com>
Date: 18 Dec 90 20:02:47 GMT
References: <1990Dec18.131438.4762@aplcen.apl.jhu.edu>
Organization: Hewlett Packard, Cupertino
Lines: 24

From: randy@aplcomm.jhuapl.edu (RANDALL SCHRICKEL (NCE) x7661)

>Saw a short blurb about the subject in Unix Today, or some magazine. Who can
>tell me anything about it? Supposedly it can be used at sites with 2 or more
>HPs, so that if one crashes the other will take over with no down time.
>Pricing, reviews, any details would be appreciated. Thanx.

HP-UX 8.0 will have an optional feature called "SwitchOver/UX",
which allows for one HP-UX machine to back up up to seven others, 
and take over in the event that one of the seven fails.

The backup machine "becomes" the failed machine in all important
matters, and reboots as the failed machine.  It takes over the disks, 
and thus uses exactly the same '/' directory.   A special Ethernet 
address is used for each machine in these "groups",  and the backup 
takes over the Ethernet address of the failed machine.  The IP address
is similarly unchanged.  Thus, accessing the takeover from a network
is indistinguishable from accessing the original machine.

Pricing, etc, should be obtained from your local HP sales office.  If
you should have trouble locating such, send email.

Dan Hepner
dhepner@cup.hp.com