Tandem has launched a new cluster NT server to support non-stop critical applications such as credit-card transactions, automated teller machine services and other on-line businesses which use a mainframe or Unix system.
The CS150, as a clustered model, has two Intel Pentium Pro processors located close together or, more precisely, two autonomous NT servers combined in a single cabinet.
Each CPU has its own copy of an operating system, memory (up to one gigabyte per node), small computer serial interface (SCSI) disk controller and power supply.
As a result, it is equipped with fault-tolerant capability to guarantee non-stop operation.
In case of hardware, operating system or application fault, the processes running on the failed node, which controls data traffic, can be sent automatically to another node in the cluster.
Such backup is not found in symmetric multiprocessor (SMP) servers, which share disk and other resources.