A method is provided of assigning processors in a multiprocessor
environment to a plurality of processes that are executed in the
multiprocessor environment. Each process has a process pair defined by a
primary process that executes on a first processor, and a backup process
that executes on a second processor. There are a plurality of process
pairs. The processors are in communication with one another via a
communication network. The processors are associated with a plurality of
predefined processor pairs. First, a plurality of process pairs are
provided that are initially assigned to a respective plurality of pairs
of processors, wherein at least one of the processors in the plurality of
pairs of processors is initially assigned to more than one processor
pair. Each processor is then assigned to only one of the predefined
processor pairs so that no processor belongs to more than one processor
pair. Then, each of the plurality of process pairs are assigned to a
respective one of the predefined processor pairs. This assigning process
results in a configuration that reduces the number of failure modes from
the number of failure modes that exists in the initial configuration.