Stochastic Activity Networks Templates: Supporting Variability in Performability Models

Model-based evaluation is extensively used to estimate the performance and reliability of dependable systems. Traditionally, these systems were small self-contained, main challenge for model-based has been efficiency solution process. Recently, problem specifying maintaining complex models increasingly gained attention, as modern are characterized by many components interactions. Components share similarities, but at same time, also exhibit variations in their behavior due different configurations or roles system. From modeling perspective, lead replicating altering a set base multiple times. Variability taken into account only informally, defining sample model explaining its possible variations. In this article, we address including variability performability models, focusing on stochastic activity networks (SANs). We introduce formal definition templates (SAN-T), formalism based SANs with addition aspects. Differently from other approaches, parameters can affect structure model, like number cases activities. apply SAN-T backbone network an environmental monitoring infrastructure. particular, show how existing SAN literature be generalized using newly introduced formalism.