Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

A CCS-based investigation of deadlock in a multi-process electronic mail system

  • Published:
Formal Aspects of Computing

Abstract

The networking software for a VAX/VMS computer system had been implemented as a collection of communicating processes. One night, an unusually high load on the electronic mail component of the software caused deadlock to occur between two of the processes. This paper describes how the deadlock was analysed by modelling the software using the Calculus of Communicating Systems (CCS) and then by investigating the behaviour of the model using the Edinburgh Concurrency Workbench (CWB). The analysis suggested how the software should be restructured to prevent the problem recurring; the new set of processes was analysed, and shown to be deadlock-free.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Boudol, G., de Simone, R., Roy, V. and Vergamini, D.: Process Calculi, from Theory to Practice: Verification Tools.Springer-Verlag LNCS 407, pp. 1–10, 1990.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Boudol, G.: Notes on Algebraic Calculi of Processes. In Apt (ed) Logics and Models of Concurrent Systems. Springer-Verlag, 1985.

  3. Cleaveland, R., Parrow, J. and Steffen, B.: The Concurrency Workbench.Springer-Verlag LNCS 407, pp. 24–37, 1990.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Inverardi, P. and Priami, C.: Evaluation of Tools for the Analysis of Communicating Systems.Bulletin of the EATCS no. 45, pp. 158–185, 1991.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Kozen, D.: Results on the Propositional Mu-calculus.Theoretical Computer Science, 27, 333–354 (1983).

    Google Scholar 

  6. Larsen, K., Godskesen, J. and Zeeberg, M.: TAV, Tools for Automatic Verification, User Manual, Technical Report R 89-19, Dept of Mathematics and Computer Science, Ålborg University, 1989.

  7. Marsden, B.: Communication Network Protocols: OSI Explained. Chartwell-Bratt, 1991.

  8. Milner, R.: Communication and Concurrency. Prentice-Hall, 1989.

  9. Morley, M.: Tactics for State Space Reduction on the Concurrency Workbench, Technical Report ECS-LFCS-90-109, Dept of Computer Science, University of Edinburgh, 1990.

  10. Stirling, C.: Temporal Logics for CCS,Springer-Verlag LNCS 354, pp. 660–675, 1989.

    Google Scholar 

  11. Tanenbaum, A.: Computer Networks. Prentice-Hall, 1988.

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Computer Science, University of Edinburgh, James Clerk Maxwell Building, Mayfield Road, EH9 3JZ, Edinburgh, UK

    Gordon Brebner

Authors
  1. Gordon Brebner
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Brebner, G. A CCS-based investigation of deadlock in a multi-process electronic mail system. Formal Aspects of Computing 5, 467–479 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01212487

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01212487

Keywords

Search

Navigation