NonStop (server computers)
| Company type | Product line |
|---|---|
| Industry | Computer hardware, Computer software |
| Predecessor | Tandem Computers Inc. |
| Founded | 1976 |
| Products | Fault-tolerant servers, NonStop OS, NonStop SQL, Enscribe |
| Owner | Hewlett Packard Enterprise |
| Website | www |
NonStop refers to a family of server systems initially introduced in 1976 by Tandem Computers Inc., marking the debut of the NonStop product line. This was subsequently followed by the Tandem Integrity NonStop lock-step fault-tolerant machines, which have since been discontinued and are distinct from the later Hewlett-Packard Integrity series. Presently, the original NonStop product line is marketed by Hewlett Packard Enterprise after the 2015 division of Hewlett-Packard Company. The integrated NonStop OS for these platforms was co-developed by Tandem and HPE.
The architecture of NonStop systems emphasizes maximum availability by incorporating extensive redundant components to eliminate single points of failure. Upon detecting a failure in a primary component, the system automatically transitions control to standby units, enabling self-recovery without interruption.
These servers are widely deployed in mission-critical sectors including banking, stock exchanges, payment processing, retail, energy, healthcare, manufacturing, telecommunications, and transportation—industries where near-continuous uptime is imperative.
History
The NonStop product line was launched by Tandem Computers Inc. in 1976 and underwent several ownership changes: acquired by Compaq in 1997, then Hewlett-Packard Company in 2003, and ultimately becoming part of Hewlett Packard Enterprise in 2015. In 2005, HP introduced the Integrity "NonStop i" (TNS/E) servers built on Intel Itanium processors. Later, in 2014, the "NonStop X" (TNS/X) systems utilizing Intel x86-64 architecture were released. Production of Itanium-based models ceased as of July 2020.
Originally, fault tolerance had to be explicitly programmed into applications. This approach evolved in 1983 with the introduction of system-level fault tolerance management tools such as Transaction Monitoring Facility (TMF), Pathway transaction software, and SCOBOL applications—later superseded by NonStop Tuxedo.
Software
NonStop OS is a message-driven operating system designed with fault tolerance at its core. It employs pairs of processes so that backup processes on duplicate CPUs can immediately assume control if a process or CPU fails, ensuring transaction consistency without any loss.
The operating system, known as NonStop OS, consists of a foundational Guardian layer alongside the Open System Services (OSS) personality that offers a Unix-like environment for additional software components.
Built hand-in-hand with fault-tolerant hardware, this OS continuously monitors system elements and orchestrates automatic failover to maintain uninterrupted operation. Its software architecture supports continuous availability by pairing a primary process with a "hot backup" process that receives timely data updates at critical junctures to facilitate seamless transition upon failure.
Supported database technologies include relational databases such as NonStop SQL and hierarchical databases like Enscribe. Programming languages compatible with the platform encompass Java, C, C++, COBOL, SCOBOL, and Transaction Application Language (TAL). The system's command interface relies on TACL (Tandem Advanced Command Language), with most components developed primarily in TAL and C.
Hardware
HPE Integrity NonStop servers represent fault-tolerant, message-oriented systems constructed on Intel Xeon processors and tailored for handling extensive transaction volumes. They deliver an average uptime rating of 99.999%. Featuring a massively parallel processing (MPP) design, each CPU operates its own instance of the operating system, facilitating near-linear scalability up to more than 4000 CPUs within a shared-nothing (loosely coupled multiprocessing) framework.
Due to their cohesive hardware/software integration and single-system image capability across vast configurations, NonStop servers demand minimal administrative effort. Deployments typically consist of one primary production server instead of complex clusters or server farms.
Most organizations implement a geographically separate backup server for disaster recovery purposes. HPE provides tools like Remote Database Facility (RDF) to replicate data between production and backup environments, allowing swift failover with minimal data loss during emergencies.
Additionally, HP developed the HP Neoview line—a data warehouse and business intelligence server built upon NonStop technology. Neoview incorporated NonStop OS and NonStop SQL but did not support transaction processing functions. This product line was officially discontinued as of January 2011.
See also
- List of compilers – features several compilers compatible with NonStop systems
- Master-checker
- Reliability engineering
- Stratus Technologies