Lockstep (computing)

Lockstep systems are fault-tolerant computer systems that run the same set of operations at the same time in parallel. The redundancy allows error detection and error correction: the output from lockstep operations can be compared to determine if there has been a fault if there are at least two systems (dual modular redundancy), and the error can be automatically corrected if there are at least three systems (triple modular redundancy), via majority vote. The term "lockstep" originates in the army usage, where it refers to the synchronized walking, in which the marchers walk as closely together as physically practical.