Abstract: A data structure is formatted that supports a single access operation while enabling data structure verification, data integrity verification, and data extensibility. The data format utilizes error identifier fields to enable the verification of data integrity and bracket pairs to verify data structure integrity and to support data structure extensibility. The data structure is utilized to perform a single access operation. In performing a single access operation, the data structure is read, the data format is verified, and the data integrity is verified. In addition, in instances where the data structure includes complex data, a new feature, or a prior program version, support for the complex data, new feature, or prior program version is provided.

Abstract: A data structure is formatted that supports a single access operation while enabling data structure verification, data integrity verification, and data extensibility. The data format utilizes error identifier fields to enable the verification of data integrity and bracket pairs to verify data structure integrity and to support data structure extensibility. The data structure is utilized to perform a single access operation. In performing a single access operation, the data structure is read, the data format is verified, and the data integrity is verified. In addition, in instances where the data structure includes complex data, a new feature, or a prior program version, support for the complex data, new feature, or prior program version is provided.

Abstract: A computer system having a fault-tolerance framework in an extendable computer architecture. The computer system is formed of clusters of nodes where each node includes computer hardware and operating system software for executing jobs that implement the services provided by the computer system. Jobs are distributed across the nodes under control of a hierarchical resource management unit. The resource management unit includes hierarchical monitors that monitor and control the allocation of resources. In the resource management unit, a first monitor, at a first level, monitors and allocates elements below the first level. A second monitor, at a second level, monitors and allocates elements at the first level. The framework is extendable from the hierarchy of the first and second levels to higher levels where monitors at higher levels each monitor lower level elements in a hierarchical tree. If a failure occurs down the hierarchy, a higher level monitor restarts an element at a lower level.