Bridge interfacing two processing sets operating in a lockstep mode and

Abstract

A bridge for a multi-processor system includes bus interfaces for connection to an I/O bus of a first processing set, an I/O bus of a second processing set and a device bus. The bridge also includes a memory subsystem and a bridge control mechanism. The bridge control mechanism is operable to monitor operation of the first and second processing sets in a combined, lockstep, operating mode and to be responsive to detection of a lockstep error to cause the bridge to be operable in an error mode in which write accesses initiated by the processor sets are buffered in a bridge buffer pending resolution of the error mode. A respective buffer region is provided for each processing set. In an initial error mode, any complete device write accesses initiated by the processing sets are stored in a posted write buffer. Where data is in transit through the bridge on entry to the error mode, the data is diverted to one or more disconnect registers. The bridge control mechanism is operable to permit read access to the posted write buffers and the disconnect registers by the processing sets to enable recovery from the error mode.