A two-unit parallel redundant system with three modes and bivariate exponential lifetimes

Abstract A two-unit parallel redundant system is applicable in many practical fields, such as computer systems. Whereas the earlier models for such a system have assumed that the failures of the two units are independent, these are taken here to be dependent and have a joint bivariate exponential (BVE) distribution. Each unit has three modes and when the system fails completely, it is repaired (or replaced) with arbitrary rate. Using Sugasaw and Kaji's ( Microelectronics and Reliability , 21 (5), 661–670) modification of the regenerative point technique as applied to Markov-renewal process theory, several reliability characteristics of interest to system designers are obtained.