Abstract: A fault tolerant platform is provided that comprises two systems running pairs of processes in the active and standby state, one process from each pair running on each system. Each system comprises a fault-tolerance controlling process, first communication channels provided between the fault-tolerance controlling process and the processes in the active or standby state running on its system, and second communication channels provided between the fault-tolerance controlling processes. Management of fault tolerance (that is, promoting a process in a standby state to the active state, and making a process in an active state exit from the active state) is handled by the fault-tolerance controlling processes. A generic management of fault tolerant processes is thus provided in which fault detection and switchover is carried out independently of the applications. The invention thus ensures efficient and coherent switchover between active and standby processes.