Dependability evaluation of PROFIBUS-DP networks by using a stochastic Petri net framework

The paper presents a framework to evaluate dependability of PROFIBUS-DP networks. An hierarchical modeling approach is proposed, which considers both the effects of different kinds of faults-permanent, transient and common-cause and the interaction between hardware and software components. Stochastic Petri nets are used as the modeling technique to obtain dependability models, with emphasis in the use of analytical/numerical methods to provide model's solutions. In scenarios where its difficult to apply this approach, compact simulation models are derived.