@article {Longo2015280, title = {Dependability modeling of Software Defined Networking}, journal = {Computer Networks}, volume = {83}, year = {2015}, note = {cited By 6}, pages = {280-296}, publisher = {Elsevier}, abstract = {

Software Defined Networking (SDN) is a new network design paradigm that aims at simplifying the implementation of complex networking infrastructures by separating the forwarding functionalities (data plane) from the network logical control (control plane). Network devices are used only for forwarding, while decisions about where data is sent are taken by a logically centralized yet physically distributed component, i.e., the SDN controller. From a quality of service (QoS) point of view, an SDN controller is a complex system whose operation can be highly dependent on a variety of parameters, e.g., its degree of distribution, the corresponding topology, the number of network devices to control, and so on. Dependability aspects are particularly critical in this context. In this work, we present a new analytical modeling technique that allows us to represent an SDN controller whose components are organized in a hierarchical topology, focusing on reliability and availability aspects and overcoming issues and limitations of Markovian models. In particular, our approach allows to capture changes in the operating conditions (e.g., in the number of managed devices) still allowing to represent the underlying phenomena through generally distributed events. The dependability of a use case on a two-layer hierarchical SDN control plane is investigated through the proposed technique providing numerical results to demonstrate the feasibility of the approach. {\textcopyright} 2015 Elsevier B.V.

}, keywords = {Availability, Complex networks, Controllers, Degree of distributions, Distributed components, Electric network topology, Information dissemination, Markov processes, Networking infrastructure, Non-Markovian, Quality control, Quality of service, Random processes, Reliability, Reliability and availability, Software defined networking (SDN), Software reliability, Software-defined networkings, Stochastic models, Stochastic systems, Topology, Type expansions}, issn = {13891286}, doi = {10.1016/j.comnet.2015.03.018}, url = {https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84946489290\&doi=10.1016\%2fj.comnet.2015.03.018\&partnerID=40\&md5=b4f32c89d2b7b79fefcaf97082764960}, author = {Francesco Longo and Salvatore Distefano and Dario Bruneo and Marco Scarpa} } @article {Distefano2015629, title = {QoS Assessment of Mobile Crowdsensing Services}, journal = {Journal of Grid Computing}, volume = {13}, number = {4}, year = {2015}, note = {cited By 2}, pages = {629-650}, publisher = {Springer Netherlands}, abstract = {

The wide spreading of smart devices drives to develop distributed applications of increasing complexity, attracting efforts from both research and business communities. Recently, a new volunteer contribution paradigm based on participatory and opportunistic sensing is affirming in the Internet of Things scenario: Mobile Crowdsensing (MCS). A typical MCS application considers smart devices as contributing sensors able to produce geolocalized data about the physical environment, then collected by a remote application server for processing. The growing interest on MCS allows to think about its possible exploitation in commercial context. This calls for adequate methods able to support MCS service providers in design choices, implementing mechanisms for the quality of service (QoS) assessment while dealing with complex time-dependent phenomena and churning issues due to contributors that unpredictably join and leave the MCS system. In this paper, we propose an analytical modeling framework based on stochastic Petri nets to evaluate QoS metrics of a class of MCS services. This method requires to extend the Petri net formalism by specifying a marking dependency semantics for non-exponentially distributed transitions. The approach is then applied to an MCS application example deriving some QoS measures that can drive quantitative evaluation and characterization of the {\textquotedblleft}crowd{\textquotedblright} behavior. {\textcopyright} 2015, Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht.

}, keywords = {crowdsensing, Digital storage, Distributed applications, Marking dependency, Non-Markovian, Performability, Petri nets, Quality of service, Quality of service (QoS) assessments, Quantitative evaluation, Semantics, Stochastic systems, Time dependent phenomena}, issn = {15707873}, doi = {10.1007/s10723-015-9338-7}, url = {https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84958155341\&doi=10.1007\%2fs10723-015-9338-7\&partnerID=40\&md5=3bd7e36a37ab06a3acabb37a21b90ab1}, author = {Salvatore Distefano and Francesco Longo and Marco Scarpa} } @article {Longo20151540, title = {Two-layer symbolic representation for stochastic models with phase-type distributed events}, journal = {International Journal of Systems Science}, volume = {46}, number = {9}, year = {2015}, note = {cited By 2}, pages = {1540-1571}, publisher = {Taylor and Francis Ltd.}, abstract = {

Among the techniques that have been proposed for the analysis of non-Markovian models, the state space expansion approach showed great flexibility in terms of modelling capacities.The principal drawback is the explosion of the state space. This paper proposes a two-layer symbolic method for efficiently storing the expanded reachability graph of a non-Markovian model in the case in which continuous phase-type distributions are associated with the firing times of system events, and different memory policies are considered. At the lower layer, the reachability graph is symbolically represented in the form of a set of Kronecker matrices, while, at the higher layer, all the information needed to correctly manage event memory is stored in a multi-terminal multi-valued decision diagram. Such an information is collected by applying a symbolic algorithm, which is based on a couple of theorems. The efficiency of the proposed approach, in terms of memory occupation and execution time, is shown by applying it to a set of non-Markovian stochastic Petri nets and comparing it with a classical explicit expansion algorithm. Moreover, a comparison with a classical symbolic approach is performed whenever possible. {\textcopyright} 2013 Taylor \& Francis.

}, keywords = {Decision diagram, Decision theory, efficient memory occupation, Many valued logics, Markov processes, Non-Markovian, Petri nets, phase type distributions, Stochastic models, Stochastic systems, symbolic representation}, issn = {00207721}, doi = {10.1080/00207721.2013.822940}, url = {http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-84928644988\&partnerID=40\&md5=3f853e6fcb8bddeebf2e890076ff798d}, author = {Francesco Longo and Marco Scarpa} } @article {Longo20152506, title = {Variable operating conditions in distributed systems: Modeling and evaluation}, journal = {Concurrency Computation Practice and Experience}, volume = {27}, number = {10}, year = {2015}, note = {cited By 1}, pages = {2506-2530}, publisher = {John Wiley and Sons Ltd}, abstract = {

SummaryPerformance and dependability evaluation plays a key role in the design of a broad range of systems, especially when strict requirements need to be met. This is particularly challenging in distributed contexts, where several components may interact among themselves by influencing each other. In this paper, we present an analytical method that allows the study of a class of systems where different operating conditions alternate by changing the stochastic behavior of the system components but still preserving the continuity of the performance and dependability quantities to investigate. The proposed solution technique, based on phase type distributions, Kronecker algebra, and ad-hoc fitting algorithms, can be applied for the analytical evaluation of a wide class of distributed systems. Examples are provided to show the usefulness and the applicability of the methodology, characterizing and investigating different performance and dependability aspects of three distributed computing systems, that is, a connection-oriented network, an Internet of Things application, and an Infrastructure-as-a-Service Cloud. Copyright {\textcopyright} 2014 John Wiley \& Sons, Ltd.

}, keywords = {Algebra, cloud computing, Conservative systems, Dependability, Distributed computer systems, Internet, Internet of Things, Kronecker algebra, Markov processes, Non-Markovian, Performance, phase type distributions, Stochastic systems}, issn = {15320626}, doi = {10.1002/cpe.3419}, url = {http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-84932604392\&partnerID=40\&md5=b8f197a50fa177e85f0c1ac2a93fe392}, author = {Francesco Longo and Dario Bruneo and Salvatore Distefano and Marco Scarpa} } @article {Distefano20123701, title = {Investigating dynamic reliability and availability through state-space models}, journal = {Computers and Mathematics with Applications - Elsevier Ltd}, volume = {64}, number = {12}, year = {2012}, note = {cited By 7}, pages = {3701-3716}, abstract = {

Quality standards impose increasingly stringent requirements and constraints on quality of service attributes and measures. As a consequence, aspects, phenomena, and behaviors, hitherto approximated or neglected, have to be taken into account in quantitative assessment in order to provide adequate measures satisfying smaller and smaller confidence intervals and tolerances. With specific regards to reliability and availability, this means that interferences and dependencies involving the components of a system can no longer be neglected. Therefore, in order to support such a trend, specific techniques and tools are required to adequately deal with dynamic aspects in reliability and availability assessment. The main goal of this paper is to demonstrate how state-space based techniques can satisfy such a demand. For this purpose some examples of specific dynamic reliability behaviors, such as common cause failure and load sharing, are considered applying state-space based techniques to study the corresponding reliability models. Different repair policies in availability contexts are also explored. Both Markovian and non-Markovian models are studied via phase type expansion and renewal theory in order to adequately represent and evaluate the considered dynamic reliability aspects in case of generally distributed lifetimes and times to repair. {\textcopyright} 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

}, keywords = {Availability, Common cause failure, Confidence interval, Dynamic aspects, Dynamic reliability, Load sharing, Markov processes, Markov regenerative process, Markovian, Non-Markovian, Quality of service, Quality standard, Quantitative assessments, Reliability, Reliability and availability, Reliability model, Renewal theory, Repair policy, Semi Markov model, State-space, State-space models, Stringent requirement}, issn = {08981221}, doi = {10.1016/j.camwa.2012.02.038}, url = {http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-84870249108\&partnerID=40\&md5=9ecb143c24c7493a16292faa4f50d175}, author = {Salvatore Distefano and Francesco Longo and Kishor S. Trivedi} } @article {Bruneo20111213, title = {Performance analysis of job dissemination techniques in Grid systems}, journal = {Concurrency Computation Practice and Experience - John Wiley \& Sons, Inc.}, volume = {23}, number = {11}, year = {2011}, note = {cited By 2}, pages = {1213-1235}, abstract = {

In the last few years, remarkable efforts have been made to extend the Grid paradigm to commercial solutions. Business-oriented grids call for effective Quality of Service strategies able to adapt to different user requirements and to address Service Level Agreements. Performance analysis and prediction with respect to different load conditions or management policies are required to define such strategies. However, the highly distributed nature of Grid systems and the presence of distinct administrative domains make it difficult to carry out performance estimations. In fact, several parameters are involved and the autonomy of each site could make it complex to set them in a proper way. In this paper, we present a non-Markovian Stochastic Petri Net methodology that allows to conduct performance analysis of Grid systems focusing on aspects related to the Virtual Organization as a whole. In particular, different job allocation techniques can be evaluated with respect to both user and provider points-of-view. The influence of different information update policies on the accuracy of the allocation schemes can also be investigated, highlighting the costs/benefits in terms of job waiting time, service availability, and system utilization. The proposed methodology is designed to be as general as possible and it can be applied to analyze a gLite Grid infrastructure taken as case study. {\textcopyright} 2011 John Wiley \& Sons, Ltd.

}, keywords = {Grid computing, Grid infrastructures, Grid systems, Information updates, Job allocation, Load condition, Management policy, Non-Markovian, Performance analysis, Performance estimation, performance measurements, Petri nets, Quality of service, Random access storage, Service availability, Service Level Agreements, Stochastic Petri Nets, Stochastic systems, System utilization, User requirements, Virtual organization, Waiting-time}, issn = {15320626}, doi = {10.1002/cpe.1697}, url = {http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-79960133545\&partnerID=40\&md5=a557a0ec6dd02249f31a6a0960e2bc92}, author = {Dario Bruneo and Francesco Longo and Marco Scarpa and Antonio Puliafito} } @proceedings {Bruneo2010, title = {QoS assessment of WS-BPEL processes through non-Markovian stochastic Petri nets}, journal = {Proceedings of the 24th IEEE International Symposium on Parallel and Distributed Processing (IPDPS)}, year = {2010}, note = {cited By 11; Conference of 24th IEEE International Parallel and Distributed Processing Symposium, IPDPS 2010 ; Conference Date: 19 April 2010 Through 23 April 2010; Conference Code:80843}, publisher = {IEEE Computer Society}, address = {Atlanta, GA, United States, 19-23 April 2010}, abstract = {

Service Oriented Architecture (SOA) is the most important and effective software paradigm to design Internet-based services. Using the SOA technology, value-added services can be easily deployed as a combination of existing Web services. In this context, WS-BPEL language has become the SOA industrial standard. To allow services to be composed, business relationships between providers and consumers have to be adequately managed. This implies that a formal definition of Quality of Service (QoS) is agreed and that effective tools for its measurement have to be developed. However, the design ofQoS guaranteed composed Web services still requires several efforts due to the highly distributed nature ofsuch software applications. This work aims at proposing a methodology to evaluate Web service performance at the earliest design phase. We present a novel technique to translate WS-BPEL processes into non-Markovian stochastic Petri nets with the final goal to evaluate parameters such as service time distribution and service reliability. The obtained model can be numerically solved through automatic tools, allowing to investigate the service behavior under different operating conditions and thus helping software engineers to develop QoS-guaranteed software solutions. {\textcopyright} 2010 IEEE.

}, keywords = {Automatic tools, Business relationships, Computer software, Design, Design phase, Distributed parameter networks, Effective tool, Formal definition, Graph theory, Industrial standards, Information services, Internet-based services, Non-Markovian, Novel techniques, Operating condition, Petri nets, Quality of service, Service oriented architecture (SOA), Service reliability, Service time distribution, Software applications, Software engineers, Software paradigm, Software solution, Stochastic Petri Nets, Stochastic systems, Value added service, Web services, WS-BPEL}, isbn = {9781424464432}, doi = {10.1109/IPDPS.2010.5470391}, url = {http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-77954020712\&partnerID=40\&md5=70790f3d893defcf4e9c792d8b58c5da}, author = {Dario Bruneo and Salvatore Distefano and Francesco Longo and Marco Scarpa} } @proceedings {Bruneo2010243, title = {VO-level performance analysis of gLite Grids}, journal = {Proceedings of the 19th IEEE Workshop on Enabling Technologies: Infrastructure for Collaborative Enterprises (WETICE)}, year = {2010}, note = {cited By 0; Conference of 19th IEEE International Workshops on Enabling Technologies: Infrastructure for Collaborative Enterprises, WETICE 2010 ; Conference Date: 28 June 2010 Through 30 June 2010; Conference Code:81490}, pages = {243-248}, publisher = {IEEE Computer Society}, address = {Larissa, Greece, 28-30 June 2010}, abstract = {

Business oriented grids call for effective Quality of Service strategies able to adapt to different user requirements. Performance analyses and predictions with respect to different load conditions or management policies are essential instruments to define such strategies. In this paper, we present a non-Markovian Stochastic Petri Net model that allows to conduct performance analyses of Grid systems focusing on aspects related to the Virtual Organization as a whole. Different job allocation techniques will be evaluated with respect to both user and provider point-of-views. We will also investigate the influence of different information update policies on the accuracy of the allocation schemes, highlighting the costs/benefits in terms of job waiting time, service availability, and system utilization. {\textcopyright} 2010 IEEE.

}, keywords = {Business-oriented, gLite middleware, Graph theory, Grid computing, Grid systems, Information updates, Job allocation, Load condition, Management policy, middleware, Non-Markovian, Performance analysis, performance measurements, Petri nets, Quality of service, Random access storage, Service availability, Stochastic models, Stochastic Petri Nets, Stochastic systems, System utilization, User requirements, Virtual organization, Waiting-time}, isbn = {9780769540634}, issn = {15244547}, doi = {10.1109/WETICE.2010.45}, url = {http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-77955917215\&partnerID=40\&md5=5f89b9d07327325a09d78d1af77f0519}, author = {Dario Bruneo and Francesco Longo and Marco Scarpa and Antonio Puliafito} }