Abstract :
A model for analyzing the reliability of gracefully degrading and standby-sparing computer systems is developed. The basis of the model is the identification of four distinct causes of crashes: time-domain multiple faults, resource exhaustion, space-domain multiple faults, and solitary faults. Expressions are developed for each of these crash-causing mechanisms and for their interrelationship. The model is then demonstrated by using it to analyze the reliability of a gracefully degrading computer system called PRIME.
Keywords :
Fault tolerance, gracefully degrading, PRIME, reliability, resource exhaustion, solitary faults, space-domain multiple faults, standby sparing, time-domain multiple faults.; Computer crashes; Degradation; Electric breakdown; Fault diagnosis; Humans; Interference; Logic; Random variables; Stochastic processes; Time domain analysis; Fault tolerance, gracefully degrading, PRIME, reliability, resource exhaustion, solitary faults, space-domain multiple faults, standby sparing, time-domain multiple faults.;
