ABSTRACT
This chapter outlines the knowledge needed to estimate the reliability of any electronic system or subsystem
within a computer. The word estimate was used in the first sentence to emphasize that the following
calculations, even if carried out perfectly correctly, can provide no guarantee that a particular example of a
piece of electronic equipment will work for any length of time. However, they can provide a reasonable guide
to the probability that something will function as expected over a given time period. The first step in
estimating the reliability of a computer system is to determine the likelihood of failure of each of the
individual components such as resistors, capacitors, integrated circuits, and connectors, which make up the
system. This information can then be used in a full system analysis.
