An approach to the analysis of performance, reliability and risk in computer systems

Abstract

A computer system is a network of devices working together. Devices are in constant change during the life cycle of the system. Replacing devices is one of the main aims of systems performance optimization. Assuming a system contains several uncertain variables and taking into account some system evaluation indexes such as loss function, risk, uncertainty distribution, etc., this article deals with the problem of measuring performance, risk and reliability of computer systems simultaneously. A tool for the evaluation of these three factors has been developed, named EMSI (Evaluation and Modelling of Systems). It is based on an uncertainty multicriteria decision-making algorithm. Several implemented functionalities allow making comparisons between different devices, evaluating the decision of including or not a new unit into the system, measuring the reliability/risk and performance of an isolated device and of the whole system. This tool is already working at Complutense University of Madrid. © 2011 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.