Use of non-volatile memory to perform rollback function

A computer system which establishes a consistent checkpoint of a current state of the computer system for supporting fault-tolerant operation, the computer system comprising a processor connected to a memory system, wherein the processor is configured to selectively checkpoint its state as data in the memory system and is configured to selectively retrieve previously checkpointed state data from the memory system, and wherein the memory system includes:

• a data input line;
• a primary memory element;
• at least one magnetoresistive random access memory (MRAM) element connected to the primary memory element;
• and
• a selector making output from the MRAM element available for rollback functions.

A method of preparing for recovery from a fault within a computing system comprising the steps of:

• making data available to both a primary solid-state memory element and a non-volatile solid-state memory element;
• making a determination to checkpoint the state of the computing system;
• enabling the non-volatile solid-state memory element to store the available data as checkpointed data;
• and
• recording the checkpointed data in the non-volatile solid-state memory element.

A method of preparing for recovery from a fault within a computing system comprising the steps of:

• making data about the state of the computing system available to at least one magnetoresistive memory element;
• making a determination to checkpoint the state of the computing system;
• enabling at least one magnetoresistive memory element to store the available data as checkpointed data;
• and
• recording the checkpointed data in said magnetoresistive memory element.