The transition from asynchronous to synchronous system operation: an approach for distributed fault-tolerant systems

Abstract

Immediately after power-up, synchronous distributed systems need some time until essential timing properties, which are required to operate correctly, are established. We say that synchronous systems are initially in asynchronous operation. In this paper, we present an algorithm and architectural guidelines that assure the transition from asynchronous to synchronous operation within a bounded duration even in case of failures.