Dependability is now a major requirement for all computing systems and applications. Computer hardware, software, data, networks, and systems are always subject to faults. The faults cannot be eliminated; however, their impact can be limited, and a suitably designed fault-tolerant system can function even in the presence of faults. This course introduces the widely applicable concepts in reliable and fault-tolerant computing. Topics to be covered include basic testing concepts, hardware and software faults, reliability evaluation, design and evaluation of redundant systems, the relationship between testing and reliability, software reliability growth, security vulnerabilities, and emerging issues.
The course will provide the students a background so that they can: understand techniques to model faults and know how to generate tests and evaluate effectiveness; evaluate reliability of systems with permanent and temporary faults; determine applicability of these forms of redundancy to enhance reliability: spatial, temporal, procedural; assess the relation between software testing and residual defects and security vulnerabilities, devise and analyze potential solutions for emerging issues.<\/p>\n\n\n