The release follows last year's launch of a Hardware Programming Interface, which abstracts middleware from hardware-specific interfaces. SA Forum brings together network equipment, server and software developers working in high-availability and fault-tolerant networking and telecom markets.

The new interface operates above the earlier-defined hardware interface, said the Forum's Henry Turko, and complements the HPI work by providing middleware interfaces to applications. The Forum's work is intended to augment that of hardware standards groups working directly in communications equipment realms, such as the PCI Industrial Computing Manufacturers Group.

Many of the features in AIS 1.0 are relevant to server and switching clusters. The spec defines availability management for cluster services, cluster membership constraints, checkpoint services, messaging services, cluster synchronization and locking services as well as event services.

Before organizing its own third-party certification program next year, the Forum will begin a "self-certification" effort in order to link the application and hardware interfaces, Turko said.

Designers wanting to indicate certified compliance will post test scripts and testing methodology to the SAF web site, then will use a registration logo. By 2004, the Forum plans to have independent plugfests to test interoperability.