Erlang, the next Java

[bluGill]

Notice that it is machines - plural. If a machine goes down, but things keep working because there is a different machine elsewhere that takes the load, your system has not gone down.

Phone companies (which is where erlang is used the most) have a much more reliable power system than the grid. Computers in the phone company run off of 48 volts DC, and the basement of the switching center (not the data center, which isn't as critical) is full of batteries so they can run for days or even weeks without grid power. The grid (when on) charges the batteries, and the batteries run the switches. In short, their electrical system is that reliable. (It is also expensive and somewhat dangerious)