ABSTRACT

As described in the previous chapter, Open Systems Dependability is the dependability of ever-changing systems. Since an open system is changing, a one-time, non-iterative method such as that used at the time of initial development cannot deal with all of the aspects of dependability; only an iterative process that is used both at the initial development and successive modifi cations of the system repeatedly throughout its lifecycle in an integrated manner can achieve Open Systems Dependability. Such an iterative process needs to deal with failures, since open systems inherently involve incompleteness and uncertainty that may lead to failures.