Introductory description

The module concentrates on the principles and technologies that can be applied in the design, development and measurement of fault tolerance under varied assumptions. You will have the opportunity to analyse, design and write software based on state-of-the-art approaches in dependable systems.

Module aims

Outline syllabus

This is an indicative module outline only to give an indication of the sort of topics that may be covered. Actual sessions held may differ.

General: Fault, error, failure, fault transformation process. Implications of coverage on dependability, specifications, methods to achieve dependability.
Middleware: Protocols for synchronous distributed systems (leader election, consensus, clock synchronisation, Byzantine agreement and FDIR).
Protocols and abstractions for asynchronous distributed systems, including logical and vector clocks, broadcast (best-effort, unordered reliable, ordered reliable), failure detectors, global predicate detection in fault-free and faulty systems.

Learning outcomes

By the end of the module, students should be able to:

• General: Understand dependability attributes, threats and means. Understand the differences between fault, error and failure. Discuss the process by which a fault eventually causes a system failure. Understand the link between fault model and the corresponding dependability mechanisms. Introduction of terms such as fail-safe, fail-operational, fail-stop, etc. Concepts such as fault tree, FMECA, FMEA, etc.
• HW/System: Calculate reliability of a system. Use of tools for reliability modelling. Design of dependable HW.
• Middleware: Understand critical functions such as clock synchronisation, consensus, FDIR protocols, etc. Understand Byzantine failures and its impact on system complexity. Introduction to asynchronous message-passing distributed systems.
• SW: Understand the various methods for SW fault tolerance. NVP, recovery blocks, run-time checks, problem of predicate detection.

Indicative reading list

Please see Talis Aspire link for most up to date list.

View reading list on Talis Aspire

Research element

Students are required to based on their project on a scientific research paper. Students will position their project in the group report by incorporating a literature review.

Subject specific skills

Application and systems programming.
Software development processes.
Technical reporting.
Research communication.
Systems analysis and design.

Transferable skills

Technical - Expertise in the analysis and design, operation of dependable computer systems. An understanding of the hardware and software mechanisms that facility the development of dependable computer systems, including the ability to implement these mechanisms.
Communication - Lecture listening. Technical report writing. Technical document comprehension and analysis. Documenting software solutions. Research paper reading. Presentation skills.
Critical Thinking - Systems analysis and technical problem solving. Quantitative performance analysis based. Research project / paper critique.
Multitasking - Management of competing deadlines and priorities. Management of parallel project activities.
Teamwork - Working as part of a technical team in contributing to the development and documentation of a solution.
Creativity - Developing an original solution to a research-based problem.
Leadership - Combining teamwork, critical thinking and technical understanding in the development of a software solution.