A generalized algorithm for evaluating distributed-program reliability

A one-step algorithm, GEAR (generalized evaluation algorithm for reliability), is introduced that computes the reliability of a distributed computing system (DCS), which usually consists of processing element, memory unit, input/output devices, data-files, and programs as its shared resources. The probability that a task or an application can be computed successfully by sharing the required resources on the DCS is termed the system reliability. Some of the important reliabilities defined using the above concept are discussed, including terminal-pair, computer-network, distributed-program, and distributed-system. GEAR is general enough to compute all four of these parameters, and does not require any prior knowledge about multiterminal connections for computing reliability expression. Many examples are included to illustrate the usefulness of GEAR for computing reliability measures of a DCS. >