Data fail-over for a multi-computer system

A computer-based method for managing data fail-over for a plurality of computers in a network, wherein each computer comprises a processor and a storage medium, the method comprising:

• storing a copy of at least a portion of information stored on a storage medium of a first computer of the plurality of computers onto a storage medium of a second computer of the plurality of computers, wherein the first computer is coupled to at least one peripheral device through a peripheral switch, and wherein the peripheral switch is configured to route signals between the at least one peripheral device and the first computer;
• monitoring the first computer for a fail-over condition;
• detecting the fail-over condition for the first computer;
• and
• in response to said detection, configuring the peripheral switch to switch said signal routing from the first computer to the second computer, thereby routing signals between the at least one peripheral device and the second computer.

A computer-based system, comprising:

• means for storing a copy of at least a portion of information stored on a storage medium of a first computer onto a storage medium of a second computer, wherein the first computer is coupled to at least one peripheral device through a peripheral switch, and wherein the peripheral switch routes signals between the at least one peripheral device and the first computer;
• means for monitoring the first computer for a fail-over condition;
• means for detecting the fail-over condition for the first computer;
• and
• means for configuring the peripheral switch to switch said signal routing from the first computer to the second computer in response to said detecting, thereby routing signals between the at least one peripheral device and the second computer.

A carrier medium comprising program instructions, wherein the program instructions are computer executable to perform:

• storing a copy of at least a portion of information stored on a storage medium of a first computer onto a storage medium of a second computer, wherein the first computer is coupled to at least one peripheral device through a peripheral switch, and wherein the peripheral switch routes signals between the at least one peripheral device and the first computer;
• monitoring the first computer for a fail-over condition;
• detecting the fail-over condition for the first computer;
• and
• in response to said detecting, configuring the peripheral switch to switch said signal routing from the first computer to the second computer, thereby routing signals between the at least one peripheral device and the second computer.

A system comprising a plurality of computer systems, the systems comprising:

• a plurality of processors comprising a first processor and a second processor;
• at least one peripheral switch coupled to said first processor and said second processor;
• a first peripheral device coupled to said at least one peripheral switch;
• wherein said first peripheral device sends signals through said at least one peripheral switch to said first processor;
• a plurality of storage mediums, comprising a first storage medium and a second storage medium, accessible by said first processor and said second processor, respectively, wherein at least one of said plurality of storage mediums is configured to store program instructions executable by at least one of said plurality of processors to implement:
• an application configured to manage information storage on said plurality of storage mediums, wherein at least part of information stored on said first storage medium is also stored on said second storage medium;
• and
• wherein the application is further configured to make said at least part of information stored on said first storage medium assessable to at least one of said plurality of processors if said first processor or said first storage medium fails;
• and
• wherein said at least one peripheral switch is configured to switch said signals from said first peripheral device to be sent to at least one other of said plurality of processors.