Pearl linking.

[Sjbvision]

hi,
I would like to do one or both of the folowing in the future and I don't understand the procedure to make either happen can anyone help.

Option 1: I would like to link 2 pearls together, one to run the show and the other to be there as a backup. So if master fails i can instantly switch to the slave, which now I guess is the master and the show can continue. Meaning that I don't have to step both desks through the show all the time. Can I do this?

Option2: I would like to program 2 pearls for different areas of a show. 3 universes per show area. Altough both need to be cued together for some of the effects to work. How do I do this? Can I use the midi link??? How far away can the desks be rom each other?

Thanks

Steve