Failure modes and effects analysis for software reliability

This paper presents a systematic problem solving approach, which is based on the failure modes and effects analysis (FMEA), to system software reliability. This approach will practically: (a) ensure that all of conceivable failure modes and their effects on operational success of the software system have been considered; (b) list potential failures, and identify the magnitude of their effects; (c) develop criteria for test planning, design of the tests, and checkout systems (e.g., logging mechanism); (d) provide a basis for quantitative reliability and availability analysis; and (e) provide a basis for establishing corrective action priorities. This approach was created for software reliability analysis and testing in the multimedia digital distribution system (MDDS) at Thomson-CSF Sextant In-Flight Systems. First it was used to improve the software reliability for the ISDN Communication Control Unit (CCU) subsystem of the MDDS, and then globally applied to the software reliability analysis MDDS and improvement for the whole MDDS. It has been proven to be an effective and efficient approach to system software reliability.