Patent ID: 6973486
Filing Date: 2005-12-06
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. An alternate server system operating within a network environment, comprising: at least one main server; a backup server including a master controlling daemon, an application profile database and application code to run independent applications; at least one workstation; a set of cooperating daemon running on each one of the at least one main server, and each one of the at least one workstation; wherein said master controlling daemon monitors a status of each one of said set of cooperating daemon on each of said at least one main server and said at least one workstation so as to alert users of potential failure of any one of said at least one main server, and initiates a command to maintain program operations via said backup server; and wherein a watcher daemon at said at least one main server coordinates with the master controller daemon and the application profile database for periodically taking data snapshots and sending the data snapshots to a backup storage on said backup server; wherein said backup server maintains operations of running programs with no data and application losses, and instantaneously reestablishes the operations of the running programs based on a most recent snapshot upon a main server failure, such that when a signal from the watcher daemon is not timely received by the master controller daemon to indicate problems with the main server, the master controller daemon signals a switcher daemon at said at least one workstation to notify the users of the main server failure, and allows the users to continue operations using said backup server based on selected stored data.