A cooling or refrigeration system comprising: a first high stage circuit including a first heat exchanger (112, 138) and a first condenser that are coupled together at least indirectly so as to allow a first portion of a first coolant to cycle therebetween; a second high stage circuit including a second heat exchanger (112, 139) and a second condenser that are coupled together at least indirectly so as to allow a second portion of the first coolant to cycle therebetween; a controller coupled to each of the first and second heat exchangers (112, 138, 139) by way of one or more communication linkages, the controller being configured to determine that a first one of the first or second high stage circuits (108, 110) ceases operating at a desired level, and to cause the system to proceed with operating by way of a second one of the first or second high stage circuits (108, 110), and a low stage circuit including at least one heat transfer device (122, 202) that is coupled at least indirectly with each of the first and second heat exchangers (112, 138, 139), so as to allow a third portion of a second coolant to cycle between the at least one heat transfer device and the first and second heat exchangers, wherein the at least one heat transfer device (122, 202) is coupled at least indirectly with each of the first and second heat exchangers (112, 138, 139) in a parallel manner such that, if the first one of the first or second high stage circuits (108, 110) ceases operating at a desired level, then the system can continue to operate by way of the second one of the first or second high stage circuits (108, 110). a first high stage circuit including a first heat exchanger (112, 138) and a first condenser that are coupled together at least indirectly so as to allow a first portion of a first coolant to cycle therebetween; a second high stage circuit including a second heat exchanger (112, 139) and a second condenser that are coupled together at least indirectly so as to allow a second portion of the first coolant to cycle therebetween; a controller coupled to each of the first and second heat exchangers (112, 138, 139) by way of one or more communication linkages, the controller being configured to determine that a first one of the first or second high stage circuits (108, 110) ceases operating at a desired level, and to cause the system to proceed with operating by way of a second one of the first or second high stage circuits (108, 110), and a low stage circuit including at least one heat transfer device (122, 202) that is coupled at least indirectly with each of the first and second heat exchangers (112, 138, 139), so as to allow a third portion of a second coolant to cycle between the at least one heat transfer device and the first and second heat exchangers, wherein the at least one heat transfer device (122, 202) is coupled at least indirectly with each of the first and second heat exchangers (112, 138, 139) in a parallel manner such that, if the first one of the first or second high stage circuits (108, 110) ceases operating at a desired level, then the system can continue to operate by way of the second one of the first or second high stage circuits (108, 110).