Checkpoint/rollback in a distributed system using coarse-grained dataflow

The Common Spaceborne Multicomputer Operating System (COSMOS) is a spacecraft operating system for distributed memory multiprocessors, designed to meet the on-board computing requirements of long-life interplanetary missions. One of the main features of COSMOS is software-implemented fault-tolerance, including 2-way voting, 3-way voting, and check point/rollback. This paper describes the COSMOS distributed checkpoint/rollback approach, which exploits the fact that a COSMOS application program is based on a coarse-grained dataflow programming paradigm and therefore most of the state of a distributed application program is contained in the data tokens. Furthermore, all computers maintain a consistent view of this dynamic state, which facilitates the implementation of a coordinated checkpoint.<>