Fault Management Architecture (FMA) I/O Fault Services enable driver developers to integrate fault management capabilities into I/O device drivers. The Oracle Solaris I/O fault services framework defines a set of interfaces that enable all drivers to coordinate and perform basic error handling tasks and activities. The Oracle Solaris FMA as a whole provides for error handling and fault diagnosis, in addition to response and recovery. FMA is a component of Oracle's Predictive Self-Healing strategy.
A driver is considered hardened when it uses the defensive programming practices described in this document in addition to the I/O fault services framework for error handling and diagnosis. The driver hardening test harness tests that the I/O fault services and defensive programming requirements have been correctly fulfilled.
This chapter is a reference for driver developers who want to integrate fault management capabilities into I/O device drivers.