GUARDS Project - PDCC Activity Output, Report GUARDS/D3A4/AO/6002 C, Mar 18 1997.

Analytical Modelling of GUARDS Mechanisms and Components: Example of the Error Filtering Mechanism 

S. Chiaradonna*, F. Di Giandomenico*, A. Bondavalli**

*   IEI Istituto del CNR, Via S. Maria 34, 56126 Pisa, Italy
    S.Chiaradonna@guest.cnuce.cnr.it, digiandomenico@iei.pi.cnr.it

** CNUCE Istituto del CNR, Via S. Maria 36, 56126 Pisa, Italy
     a.bondavalli@cnuce.cnr.it

Abstract

This document presents an example of the application of model-based analytical evaluation techniques to GUARDS mechanisms and components. In particular, the mechanism a-count envisaged to improve the fault treatment in the GUARDS framework has been selected. In this document we derive models of this mechanism and perform a thorough analysis with respect to appropriate identified measures. Although the models presented are mainly concerned with the general behaviour of the analysed mechanism and do not deal with the details of the specific application of the a-count mechanism in the GUARDS context, they prove to be significant examples to show the usefulness of analytical modelling and evaluation applied to mechanisms and components.

References

[1] J. Arlat, "Preliminary Definition of the GUARDS Validation Strategy," LAAS-CNRS ESPRIT Project 20716 GUARDS Report D3A1/A0/5002/D, February 1997.

[2] A. Bondavalli, S. Chiaradonna, F. Di Giandomenico and F. Grandoni, "Fault Tolerance Structures & Mechanisms," PDCC ESPRIT Project 20716 GUARDS Report D1A2/A0/6000/A, September 1996.

[3] A. Bondavalli, S. Chiaradonna, F. Di Giandomenico and F. Grandoni, "A Mechanism for Discriminating Transient from Intermittent/Permanent faults," PDCC ESPRIT Project 20716 GUARDS Report /D1A2/AO/6003/A, 16 December 1996.

[4] A. Bondavalli, S. Chiaradonna, F. Di Giandomenico and F. Grandoni, "Discriminating Fault Rate and Persistency to Improve Fault Treatment," Accepted to 27th IEEE International Symposium on Fault-Tolerant Computing, Seattle, USA, 1997.

[5] E. Jenn and M. Nelli, "Approach, Methodology and Tools for Validation by Analytical Modelling," Technicatome/PDCC Second Part of D302: "Functional Specification and Preliminary Design of GUARDS Validation Environment", ESPRIT Project 20716 GUARDS Report, February 1997.

[6] C. Rabejac, "Inter-Channel Consistency Mechanism," Matra Marconi Space France ESPRIT Project 20716 GUARDS Report D1A3/A0/2008/D, October 1996.

[7] W. H. Sanders and J. F. Meyer, "A Unified Approach for Specifying Measures of Performance, Dependability and Performability," in "Dependable Computing for Critical Applications, Vol. 4: of Dependable Computing and Fault-Tolerant Systems", A. Avizienis and J. Laprie Ed., Springer-Verlag, 1991, pp. 215-237.

[8] W. H. Sanders, W. D. Obal, M. A. Qureshi and F. K. Widjanarko, "The UltraSAN Modeling Environment," Performance Evaluation Journal, special issue on Performance Modeling Tools, Vol. 24, pp. 89-115, 1995.

For more information on this paper/report contact: S. Chiaradonna