New tool provides a cloud-based ‘immune system’ for computers

‘Dimmunix’, a new IT tool enables programs to avoid future recurrences of bugs without any assistance from users or programmers.

The approach, termed ‘failure immunity,’ starts working the first time a bug occurs - it saves a signature of the bug, then observes how the computer reacts, and records a trace. When the bug is about to manifest again, Dimmunix uses these traces to recognize the bug and automatically alters the execution so the program continues to run smoothly.

The latest version uses cloud computing technology to take advantage of networks and thereby inoculating entire communities of computers.

"Dimmunix could be compared to a human immune system. Once the body is infected, its immune system develops antibodies. Subsequently, when the immune system encounters the same pathogen once again, the body recognizes it and knows how to effectively fight the illness," explains George Candea, director of Dependable Systems Lab, where the new tool has been developed.

http://dimmunix.epfl.ch/

•Date: 27th Jan 2010 • Region: World •Type: Article •Topic: IT continuity
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