Multi-layer software reliability for unreliable hardware

Muhammad Shafique, Philip Axer, Christoph Borchert, Jian-Jia Chen, Kuan-Hsun Chen, Björn Döbel, Rolf Ernst, Hermann Härtig, Andreas Heinig, Rüdiger Kapitza, Florian Kriebel, Daniel Lohmann, Peter Marwedel, Semeen Rehman, Florian Schmoll, Olaf Spinczyk

Abstract: This paper presents a multi-layer software reliability approach that leverages multiple software layers (e. g., programming language, compiler, and operating system) to improve the overall system reliability considering unreliable or partly-reliable hardware. We present a comprehensive design flow that integrates multiple software layers while accounting for the knowledge from lower hardware layers. We show how multiple software layers synergistically operate to achieve a high degree of reliability.