Network Reliability Evaluation and Optimization: Methods, Algorithms and Software Tools

Networks reliability analysis consists of determining the probability of correct operations of a system. Generally, the network is modeled as a connected graph and formally approached as a stochastic coherent binary system (SCBS). It represents the functioning of a system such as telecommunication and transportation networks, or simply hardware/software devices. Real networks model could be very larges and complexes which provoke the reliability evaluation to become intractable with traditional algorithms, so it is needed to invent more efficient techniques. Approaches used for determining the reliability of a system involve exact and approximate techniques. This paper introduces the problem of evaluating and optimizing the reliability of networks. It presents the most important methods, algorithms and software tools, and an interesting review of the literature. This work is based on our experiment to conducting projects in reliability engineering, essentially in telecommunication and transport networks.