Modeling and measurement of fault-tolerant multiprocessors

Shin, K. G.; Woodbury, M. H.; Lee, Y. H.

The workload effects on computer performance are addressed first for a highly reliable unibus multiprocessor used in real-time control. As an approach to studing these effects, a modified Stochastic Petri Net (SPN) is used to describe the synchronous operation of the multiprocessor system. From this model the vital components affecting performance can be determined. However, because of the complexity in solving the modified SPN, a simpler model, i.e., a closed priority queuing network, is constructed that represents the same critical aspects. The use of this model for a specific application requires the partitioning of the workload into job classes. It is shown that the steady state solution of the queuing model directly produces useful results. The use of this model in evaluating an existing system, the Fault Tolerant Multiprocessor (FTMP) at the NASA AIRLAB, is outlined with some experimental results. Also addressed is the technique of measuring fault latency, an important microscopic system parameter. Most related works have assumed no or a negligible fault latency and then performed approximate analyses. To eliminate this deficiency, a new methodology for indirectly measuring fault latency is presented.

Document ID

19850025419

Acquisition Source

Legacy CDMS

Document Type

Contractor Report (CR)

Authors

Date Acquired

September 5, 2013

Publication Date

August 1, 1985

Subject Category

Report/Patent Number

Accession Number

85N33732

Funding Number(s)

Distribution Limits

Public

Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.

Available Downloads

Name

Type

19850025419.pdf

STI

No Preview Available

NTRS

NTRS - NASA Technical Reports Server

Available Downloads

Related Records