Patent ID: 8156491
Filing Date: 2012-04-10
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. A computerized method for performing lockstep computing with virtual machines, the method comprising: communicating by a virtual machine with one or more additional virtual machines to establish membership for a virtual lockstep computing system, wherein each virtual machine is hosted by a node in a network, and wherein each virtual machine in the virtual lockstep computing system is to execute the same sequence of operations; communicating by the virtual machine with the one or more additional virtual machines to determine a membership configuration for the virtual lockstep computing system, wherein a first virtual machine in the membership configuration is an active machine, and all remaining virtual machines in the membership configuration are standby machines; executing a single step operation by the virtual machine upon obtaining an operational token that includes contents of the single step operation, wherein the operational token is generated by the active machine and said execution is based upon the contents in said operational token; and passing the operational token to a next virtual machine in the membership configuration, wherein the operational token is passed between the virtual machine and the additional virtual machines according to the membership configuration.