Cluster of processing elements having split mode and lock mode

An apparatus comprising:

• a cluster of means for data processing, having a split mode in which the means for data processing are configured to process independent processing workloads, and a lock mode in which the means for data processing comprise at least one primary means for data processing and at least one redundant means for data processing, each redundant means for data processing configured to perform a redundant processing workload for checking an outcome of a primary processing workload performed by a corresponding primary means for data processing;
• and
• shared means for caching data, having a predetermined cache capacity accessible to each of the means for data processing when in the split mode;
• in which said predetermined cache capacity of the shared means for caching data is fully accessible to the at least one primary means for data processing when in the lock mode.

A data processing method for an apparatus comprising a cluster of processing elements, the method comprising:

• when in a split mode, processing independent processing workloads using the cluster of processing elements, and accessing a shared cache having a predetermined cache capacity accessible to each of the processing elements in the split mode;
• and
• when in a lock mode, performing a primary processing workload on at least one primary processing element of the cluster, and performing a redundant processing workload on at least one redundant processing element of the cluster, each redundant processing workload for checking an outcome of a corresponding primary processing workload performed by a corresponding primary processing element of the cluster;
• in which:
• said predetermined cache capacity of the shared cache is fully accessible to the at least one primary processing element when in the lock mode.