Objective Questions
1. W hat is the difference between Hardware Reliability and Software Reliability?
Hardware reliability depends on physical durability, while software reliability relies on
logical correctness and design quality.
2. Define Reliability Metrics in the context of software.
Reliability metrics quantify software dependability, including MTTF, MTBF, and defect
density.
3. What is the MTTF (Mean Time to Failure) metric?
MTTF measures the average time a system operates before its first failure.
4. What does MTBF (Mean Time Between Failures) indicate in software reliability?
MTBF indicates the average time between successive system failures.
5. How is Software Availability measured?
Software availability is calculated as Availability=[(Uptime/(Uptime + Downtime))×100]
6. What is the primary objective of Reliability Models in software development?
Reliability models aim to predict and improve software reliability by analyzing failure
patterns.
7. What is the role of Prediction Models in software reliability?
Prediction models estimate future reliability based on historical and testing data.
8. What does the SEI CMM (Software Engineering Institute Capability Maturity Model)
assess?
SEI CMM evaluates the maturity of software development processes to improve quality
and reliability.
9. What is the ISO 9001 standard in software reliability?
ISO 9001 ensures consistent delivery of reliable software through quality management
standards.
10.Define Hazard in the context of software reliability.
A hazard is a condition or flaw that increases the risk of software failure.
Short Answer Questions with Detailed Explanations
1. C ompare Hardware Reliability and Software Reliability in terms of failure patterns
and the difficulty of testing.
Hardware reliability typically follows a "bathtub curve," with high failure rates during early
and late stages. Testing focuses on physical stress and durability. Software reliability
lacks wear-out mechanisms, with failures mainly arising from design or coding flaws.
Testing is more complex due to the need to cover diverse scenarios and inputs.
2. Explain Reliability Metrics. What are some commonly used metrics to evaluate
software reliability?
Reliability metrics quantify the dependability of software. Common metrics include MTTF
(Mean Time to Failure), MTBF (Mean Time Between Failures), defect density (number of
defects per KLOC), and software availability.
3. D escribe the difference between Prediction Models and Estimation Models in
software reliability.
Prediction models forecast future reliability based on historical data and assumptions,
while estimation models use current data to determine the present reliability state or
predict immediate outcomes.
4. How is MTTF (Mean Time to Failure) calculated, and what does it represent in
software reliability testing?
MTTF is calculated as the total operational time divided by the number of failures:
MTTF=Total Operational Time/Number of Failures
It represents the average time before a system experiences its first failure.
5. Explain MTBF (Mean Time Between Failures) and its relevance to software
systems.
MTBF measures the average time between two consecutive failures of a system. It is
calculated as:
MTBF=MTTF+MTTR (Mean Time to Repair)
It is critical for planning maintenance schedules and evaluating the system’s reliability in
continuous operation.
6. What is Software Availability, and how can it be calculated in the context of
reliability?
Software availability is the proportion of time a system is operational and accessible. It
can be calculated as:
vailability=[(MTTF/(MTTF + MTTR))×100]
A
where MTTR is the Mean Time to Repair.
7. D iscuss the SEI CMM (Software Engineering Institute Capability Maturity Model)
and its significance for improving software reliability.
SEI CMM is a framework that evaluates an organization’s software processes through
five maturity levels, from initial to optimizing. It helps improve reliability by promoting
structured, repeatable, and optimized development practices.
8. What is PSP (Personal Software Process), and how does it help in enhancing
software reliability?
PSP is a process improvement methodology focusing on individual developers. By
emphasizing planning, quality, and defect tracking, it helps developers produce more
reliable software.
9. Explain the concept of Six Sigma in the context of software development and its
impact on software reliability.
Six Sigma is a data-driven methodology aimed at reducing defects and variability in
processes. In software, it ensures higher reliability by minimizing errors in development
and testing phases.
10.How do Hazards affect software reliability? Provide an example of a hazard and
how it can be mitigated.
Hazards increase the likelihood of failures. For example, a buffer overflow bug can lead
to system crashes. Mitigation involves thorough code reviews, testing, and using tools
like static analyzers to detect vulnerabilities.
11.Compare between hardware reliability curve and software reliability curve.
The hardware reliability curve is "bathtub-shaped," with high failure rates at the start and
end of the life cycle. The software reliability curve shows improvement over time as bugs
are detected and fixed, but does not include wear-out phases like hardware.
