Impact of Hardware/Software Faults on System Reliability. Volume 2. Procedures for Use of Methodology

摘要

The objective of this study was to develop techniques, for predicting total system reliability, which include the combined effects of software and hardware. Since hardware reliability techniques are much further developed, the study emphasized methods of characterizing software reliability. The software reliability prediction methodology contained in the report is compatible with hardware reliability techniques and definitions and is applicable during early development so that the predictions can influence the design and development process. The software reliability prediction techniques use both software product and development process characteristics to develop estimates of the reliability of the various software components which comprise the system. The software component reliabilities are combined via a Markov model to obtain estimates of software system reliability. Estimates of the execution frequencies of the various software components, as a function of the mission profile, are required by the methodology. Procedures for application of the techniques are provided and are intended for use by a reliability engineer having a basic knowledge of software engineering practice. The techniques offer a rudimentary framework for predicting total system reliability. Validation and refinement of the techniques using software development and field reliability performance data remains to be accomplished. (Author)