[Semester 2] Fault Tolerance

Question 1

Fault tolerance

Answer 1

Investigating and preventing faults

Question 2

Failure

Answer 2

The system’s behaviour is not what was required/expected

Question 3

Error

Answer 3

A wrong value that could lead to failure

Question 4

Fault

Answer 4

A wrong value leading to an internal failure

Question 5

Types of faults

Answer 5

• Hardware faults (aging, damage, etc.)
• Software faults (e.g. changes in design)
• Humans (accidental or malicious damage)

Question 6

Fault prevention

Answer 6

Ensuring a system is free from faults

Question 7

Fault avoidance

Answer 7

Using the best possible methods and technology to avoid bugs

Question 8

Fault removal

Answer 8

Removing faults via testing, inspections, proof, etc.

Question 9

Methods of fault tolerance

Answer 9

• Error detection
• Damage confinement and assessment (checking for problems elsewhere in the system)
• Error recovery
• Fault treatment (repairs and reconfiguration)