Fault processing method and information processing system

An information processing system comprising:

• a plurality of information processors;
• and
• a data communications processor having interface control means connected to said plurality of information processors;
• a communication interface for controlling data communication between said plurality of information processors, switching means for setting a data communication path between said interface control means for communicating data from a first information processor to a second information processor, and arbitrating means connecting to said switching means for arbitrating data communication requests received from said interface control means, wherein
• said data communications processor includes fault detecting means for detecting a fault encountered in any of said interface control means, switching means and arbitrating means in said data communication processor, notifying means connected to said switching means and said interface control means for providing fault notification to all of said plurality of information processors of an occurrence of a fault detected by said fault detecting means, and reset means for resetting said interface control means, switching means and arbitrating means in said data communication processor, wherein said plurality of information processors include instructing means for instructing said data communications processor to perform a reset operation in response to receiving the fault notification, and wherein said data communications processor resets all of said interface control means, switching means and arbitrating means in said data communications processor in response to receiving the reset instruction.

An information processing system comprising:

• a plurality of information processors;
• and
• two data communications processors including a working data communications processor and a standby data communications processor connected to said plurality of information processors;
• a communication interface for controlling data communication between said plurality of information processors, switching means for setting a data communication path between said interface control means for communicating data from a first information processor to a second information processor, and arbitrating means connecting to said switching means for arbitrating data communication requests received from said interface control means, wherein
• said data communications processors include fault detecting means for detecting a fault encountered in any of said interface control means, switching means and arbitrating means in said data communication processor, notifying means connected to said switching means and said interface control means for providing fault notification to all of said plurality of information processors of an occurrence of a fault detected by said fault detecting means, and reset means for resetting said interface control means, switching means and arbitrating means in said data communication processor, wherein said plurality of information processors include instructing means for instructing said data communications processors to perform a reset operation in response to receiving the fault notification, and wherein said data communications processor resets all of said interface control means, switching means and arbitrating means in said data communications processor in response to receiving the reset instruction.