Multi-level fault injection method for computer networks functioning analysis

Аuthors

Brekhov O. M.^*, Balyan A. V.^**

Moscow Aviation Institute (National Research University), 4, Volokolamskoe shosse, Moscow, А-80, GSP-3, 125993, Russia

*e-mail: obrekhov@mail.ru
**e-mail: balyanarm@gmail.com

Abstract

The widespread use of computer networks in all spheres of human life, including the areas related with the risk for life, such as aviation and cosmonautics, medicine, etc., increases the need to ensure the reliability and fault tolerance. Errors in the functioning of such complex and distributed systems can not be avoided. Consequently, the actual objective is the study of the system behavior under the influence of faults. In order to solve this problem it was decided to apply fault injection.

Existing works in fault injection are strictly connected to one of the OSI network model levels. They make it possible to implement faults and analyze the functioning of computer networks with reference to a specific level. This fact seriously limits networks analysis capabilities. Faults and failures that occur at low levels, parry at higher levels and vice versa. However, fault injection and analysis of the reaction only at one level do not give a complete picture of the system functioning under the influence of faults and failures.

In this paper, we propose a method of multi-level fault injection. The method is based on the injection of faults at all levels of OSI model and analysis of the system reaction. The obtained data can be used to detect levels of the OSI model, which have the greatest influence on the reliability and fault tolerance of the computer network. The application of the obtained data in order to improve the degree of fault tolerance will allow to increase the efficiency of the network functioning. This paper presents the main types of faults occurring at different levels of TCP/IP protocol stack.

Following results were obtained:

• Formulation of the task of networks functioning analysis based on multi-level fault injection.

• Definition of the main types of faults and their causes at each level of the network model.

• Proposition of a multi-level fault injection method for the computer networks functioning analysis.

Keywords:

computer networks, fault injection, fault tolerance

References

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