Reliability Models for Multiprocessor Systems with and without Periodic Maintenance.

摘要

Multiprocessor systems, although designed for speed and processing power, lend inherently to redundancy. Appropriately designed distributed intelligence systems that use system reconfiguration and graceful degradation can be substantially more reliable than uniprocessor systems. Reliability models for two multiprocessor systems, C.mmp and Cm*, are presented and compared to a single LSI-11 processor. With the exception of spaceborne systems, most systems may be subjected to tests to ensure proper functioning. When performed regularly, these integrity checks enhance confidence in the system, and its expected mean time to failure. Effect of such periodic maintenance is modeled. The expected life is seen to depend strongly on the efficiency of the tests. The improvement in expected life, however, is observed to be limited by non-redundant parts of a system. Under periodic maintenance, Cm* system offers greater life than C.mmp for tasks allowing considerable redundancy.