A combined hardware, software and usage model of network reliability and availability

A description is given of a model for assessing and comparing the reliability and availability of local area networks. The model parameters include the reliabilities of the hardware and software components, the network topology, and the demands placed on the network by user activities. Management of the network resources can also be considered in the model by the way it affects the network topology, user interactions, and the importance assigned to various subgroups being able to communicate.<<ETX>>