Using the probabilistic evaluation tool for the analytical solution of large Markov models

Stochastic Petri net-based Markov modeling is a potentially very powerful and generic approach for evaluating the performance and dependability of many different systems, such as computer systems, communication networks, manufacturing systems, etc. As a consequence of their general applicability, SPN-based Markov models form the basic solution approach for several software packages that have been developed for the analytic solution of performance and dependability models. In these tools, stochastic Petri nets are used to conveniently specify complicated models, after which an automatic mapping can be carried out to an underlying Markov reward model. Subsequently, this Markov reward model is solved by specialized solution algorithms, appropriately selected for the measure of interest. One of the major aspects that hampers the use of SPN-based Markov models for the analytic solution of performance and dependability results is the size of the state space. Although typically models of up to a few hundred thousand states can conveniently be solved on modern-day work-stations, often even larger models are required to represent all the desired detail of the system. Our tool PET (probabilistic evaluation tool) circumvents problems of large state spaces when the desired performance and dependability measure are transient measures. It does so by an approach named probabilistic evaluatio

A method for analyzing the performance aspects of the fault-tolerance mechanisms in FDDI

The ability of error recovery mechanisms to make the Fiber Distributed Data Interface (FDDI) satisfy real-time performance constraints in the presence of errors is analyzed. A complicating factor in these analyses is the rarity of the error occurrences, which makes direct simulation unattractive. Therefore, a fast simulation technique, called injection simulation, which makes it possible to analyze the performance of FDDI, including its fault tolerance behavior, was developed. The implementation of injection simulation for polling models of FDDI is discussed, along with simulation result

Large-scale HI in nearby radio galaxies: segregation in neutral gas content with radio source size

We present results of a study of neutral hydrogen (HI) in a complete sample of nearby non-cluster radio galaxies. We find that radio galaxies with large amounts of extended HI (M_HI >= 10^9 M_solar) all have a compact radio source. The host galaxies of the more extended radio sources, all of Fanaroff & Riley type-I, do not contain these amounts of HI. We discuss several possible explanations for this segregation. The large-scale HI is mainly distributed in disk- and ring-like structures with sizes up to 190 kpc and masses up to 2 x 10^10 M_solar. The formation of these structures could be related to past merger events, although in some cases it may also be consistent with a cold-accretion scenario.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figures. Accepted for publication in A&A Letters. A version with full resolution figures can be found at http://www.astro.rug.nl/~emonts/emonts_HIletter_jan07.pd

Trust economics feasibility study

We believe that enterprises and other organisations currently lack sophisticated methods and tools to determine if and how IT changes should be introduced in an organisation, such that objective, measurable goals are met. This is especially true when dealing with security-related IT decisions. We report on a feasibility study, Trust Economics, conducted to demonstrate that such methodology can be developed. Assuming a deep understanding of the IT involved, the main components of our trust economics approach are: (i) assess the economic or financial impact of IT security solutions; (ii) determine how humans interact with or respond to IT security solutions; (iii) based on above, use probabilistic and stochastic modelling tools to analyse the consequences of IT security decisions. In the feasibility study we apply the trust economics methodology to address how enterprises should protect themselves against accidental or malicious misuse of USB memory sticks, an acute problem in many industries