Fault-Aware Performance Assessment Approach for Embedded Networks

Abstract

Current embedded systems are increasingly using networks, be it for connecting different components or in form of Network on Chips in case of Multi-Processor System on Chip. Knowing the performance parameters of those networks, especially in case that parts of the network are damaged, is the key to allow reliable behavior of the system. In this paper, we present an approach for measuring the performance parameters of embedded networks under different load and fault scenarios. First, the performance parameters of the network are measured in the nominal case. This information is then used to create a model of the network. For this model we provide a simulation environment, which injects faults into the network to evaluate the network under failure scenarios. We evaluated our approach on a Network on Chip consisting of 16 nodes arranged in a 4x4 matrix. Our evaluation shows that our approach can evaluate the fault effects in the network with good quality.