System and method of recovering from process failure in a write lock control system

Recovering from failure of a distributed processing system process designated as a master process for at least one shared resource. The method and system of the invention provides for detection of the failure (200) by one or more of the shadow processes. The detecting process tests (202) to determine whether it has the shared write lock managed by the master process. If it does, it becomes the master process (204). If not, it determines from the shared control file which process holds the write lock (206) and it communicates to that process a request (208) to assume master process responsibilities. That process attempts to establish itself as master process (210). A test is performed (212) to determine if a new master process has been designated. If not, a race is conducted (214) between all shadow processes.