Performance Analysis of a Computer System with Imperfect Fault Detection of Hardware

The purpose of the present work is to evaluate the functioning of a computer system using the concepts of imperfect fault detection of hardware parts and up-gradation of software upon their failure. A stochastic model for a data processor system consisting of two identical units- one is operative and the other kept as a standby is developed. A single repair facility is supplied to the system which plays the double function of the sensor as well as a maintenance man. Upon failure of the detector to detect the fracture of the hardware component unit immediately replaced by the maintenance man. Nonetheless, only up-gradation of the software is made upon failure. All time distribution except failures follows an arbitrary distribution while failures are exponentially dispersed. The expressions for several reliability measures are derived by making use of semi-Markov processes and regenerative point of technique. Numerical results are drawn from a particular case to highlight the importance of the study.