DocumentCode :
1085117
Title :
Alternatives to achieve software diversity in common channel signaling networks
Author :
Hung, Nancy L. ; Jacob, Andrew R. ; Makris, Spilios E.
Author_Institution :
Bellcore, Raritan, NJ, USA
Volume :
12
Issue :
3
fYear :
1994
fDate :
4/1/1994 12:00:00 AM
Firstpage :
533
Lastpage :
538
Abstract :
With the increasing amount of software deployed in the common channel signaling networks (CCSNs) and its increasing complexity, software and its failure effects on the CCSNs have become a major concern. The software error contributing to the 1991 CCSN outages, which affected a large number of customer lines, has underscored the vulnerability of the CCSNs to software failures. The current mated pair signaling transfer point (STP) implementations in the CCSNs, with both STPs from the same supplier having the same software, make this architecture susceptible to common-cause software failure modes that might result in failures of both STPs simultaneously. To address these concerns, ways have been considered to achieve software diversity in the CCSNs by ensuring software failure mode independence among network nodes. Four potential alternatives are identified here: (i) multiple software developments in STPs; (ii) different software generics for backup; (iii) mixed-supplier STP pairs; and (iv) E-link sets to different supplier STPs. The advantages and disadvantages of these alternatives to ensure software diversity are examined in this paper and should be weighed by individual telecommunications network providers. concerns expressed in this paper are not exhaustive listings, but rather catalysts for further studies and discussions
Keywords :
electrical engineering computing; software quality; software reliability; telecommunication signalling; telecommunications computing; E-links; STP; common channel signaling networks; multiple software developments; network nodes; signaling transfer point; software diversity; software error; software failures; software generics; software reliability; telecommunications network providers; Computer architecture; Fault tolerance; Guidelines; Intelligent networks; Jacobian matrices; Programming; Software engineering; Software reliability; Software testing; Telecommunication services;
fLanguage :
English
Journal_Title :
Selected Areas in Communications, IEEE Journal on
Publisher :
ieee
ISSN :
0733-8716
Type :
jour
DOI :
10.1109/49.285295
Filename :
285295
Link To Document :
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