Abstract: A fault recovery method for a distributed processing system where a message called a heartbeat is broadcast among the processors once during each major processing cycle. The heartbeat message indicates the physical and logical identity of the transmitting processor with respect to the system arrangement as well as the processor's present operational state. By monitoring the heartbeats from other processors, spare processors can autonomously take over the functions of failed processors without being required to consult or obtain the approval of an executive processor. The new physical location of a replaced processor will be automatically recorded by the other processors. The method has application to duplex standby and resource pool configurations as well as sparing arrangements.