Reconsidering Network Availability and Time

摘要

Availability analysis typically focuses on steady state behavior. However, there are many scenarios where the system availability may depend on time. This paper revisits modeling techniques to study time dependent availability behavior with the intent of rekindling interest in the area. The spotlight is on determining when time dependent analysis is needed, how the analysis can be conducted and efficient computational methods. Drawing on results from queueing and control theory, the set of analysis tools are expanded providing methods to estimate the length of transient time periods and numerical algorithms for studying nonstationary behavior.