Marcus, a software engineer, and Stern, a reliability expert, point out how each of the elements of a computer system can fail and explain how to assess their reliability and attain resiliency and high availability. They offer advice on designing a system to limit the impact of problems such as computer viruses, natural disasters, and the corruption of critical files. This second edition includes more real-life experiences that will help readers avoid common mistakes, and a rewritten chapter on disaster recovery, incorporating lessons learned from 9/11