Reliability and performance of computer systems (FRI)

Higher education teachers: Mraz Miha

Subject description

Prerequisits:

• Enrollment in the study year.

Content (Syllabus outline):

Reliability of computer systems

• Basic concepts (fault, termination, redundancy, MTBF, MTTR, MTTF, degraded performance, non-functional state of the system, etc.).
• The mathematical basis of the reliability theory
• Reliability modeling
• Reliability of electronic components - overview of standards
• Software reliability
• Fundamentals of system reliability
• Diagnostics in computer systems
• Overview of concrete methods for the determination of reliability (FMEA, FTA, etc.)
• Overview of software tools for the determination of reliability

Performance of computer systems

• Metrics for assessing the performance
• Loads in computing systems
• Methods for assessing the performance (analytical, simulation or measurement approach)
• Monitors
• The concept of performance determination: measurements, simulations, analytical approach
• Procedures to speed up software
• Memory hierarchies
• Performance of computer networks

Tutorials:

The purpose of tutorials is especially the presentation of the above-mentioned methods and approaches using the practical examples from the real world. For this purpose, the appropriate software tools will be used (e.g. Relex, Reliability Workbench etc.).

Objectives and competences:

The aim of the course is to present basic methods and approaches in the fields of computer reliability and performance. Both, reliability and performance are vital for the operation of any computer system. The course is designed to present students theory and methods from both fields, as well as to demonstrate the use of theoretical basics and methods through concrete problems of designing and maintenance of computer systems.

Intended learning outcomes:

Theoretical and methodological knowledge from the fields of reliability and performance.
Understanding the importance of both fields.
Understanding the use of methodological knowledge in practice.

Learning and teaching methods:

Oral lectures, tutorials in the form of project work applied to concrete examples.

Study materials

1. M. L Shooman: Reliability of computer systems and networks, J. Wiley & Sons, New York 2002
2. N. Zimic, M. Mraz: Temelji zmogljivosti računalniških sistemov, Fakulteta za rač. in informatiko, Ljubljana, 2006