A distributed computing system is one consisting of several computers operating in tandem, possibly forming one logical unit from the perspective of the users. In a more precise sense, we can say that a distributed system is a set of processors...

Fault-tolerant design refers to a method for designing a system so it will continue to operate, possibly at a reduced level (also known as graceful degradation), rather than failing completely, when some part of the system fails. The term is most...

Most buildings would stand for many years even if they had only enough structural capacity to meet their calculated load. Only a small percentage would fall--and that would happen only if the design load were exceeded or the owner failed to maintain the...

Fault-tolerant computer design techniques, originally used for aerospace systems, are being used more and more for terrestrial electronic products. Systems for space usage needed reliable backups because of the inability to maintain those systems once they were launched. Similar logic now applies to computer...