Examination arrangement

Course content

The course gives a broad introduction to dependable performance design of information and communication (ICT) systems, with focus on server systems and data networks. The following issues are covered: - Dependability concepts: attributes (availability, reliability); faults / failure (failure process, failure semantics, fault handling and maintenance); - Fault tolerance: types of redundancy, design principles and mechanisms; - Methods for dependability modeling and analysis; - Software dependability basics; - Network dependability basics; - Performance concepts: traffic, delay/latency, jitter, loss, blocking, Kendall's notation; - Classical queueing theory models: M/M/1; state-transition diagram; M/M/n/n; Erlang formulas; Jackson networks; M/G/1; P-K (Pollaczek Khinchine) formula; work-conservation law; - Internet quality of service (QoS): traffic and service specifications, architectures, mechanisms and QoS guarantee analysis; - Joint consideration of dependability and performance in system design

Learning outcome

A. Knowledge: 1) Terminology and concepts used in specification, design, operation and evaluation of information and communication (ICT) systems, with focus on dependable performance design. 2) Principles and mechanisms for fault-tolerant design of resilient server systems and data networks. 3) Fundamental models and methods for performance design of server systems and data networks. 4) Architectures and mechanisms for Internet quality of service. B. Skills: 1) To design systems with appropriate use of fault tolerance and resource allocation mechanisms to meet their dependability and performance requirements. 2) To model and evaluate systems with respect to availability and reliability. 3) To model and evaluate systems with respect to performance. C. General competence: 1) Awareness of dependability as an important factor in system design, hereunder the potential impact of failures on the application of the system. 2) Capability of communicating, and carrying out basic-reasoning and creative thinking about dependable performance in ICT systems.

The learning outcomes of TTM4158 are directly related to UN Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 9 (9.1: Develop sustainable, resilient and inclusive infrastructures, and 9.5: Enhance research and upgrade industrial technologies), and also contribute to goal 4 (4.7: Education for sustainable development and global citizenship).

Learning methods and activities

Lectures. Exercises. Lab / semester assignment carried out in small groups. Quizzes.

Further on evaluation

Portfolio assessment is the basis for the grade in the course. The portfolio includes the lab/semester assignment, exercises and quizzes. The entire portfolio is assigned a letter grade.

Recommended previous knowledge

TMA4240/TMA4245 Statistics or equivalent

Course materials

To be announced at the beginning of the semester.

Credit reductions