I have stumbled across the word "outages" in some network papers but they
don't seem to clarify its meaning. What does "outages" stand for in a
network context?

In article <ehit0q$jfh$1@news.net.uni-c.dk>, Johs32 <dfgdg@dsf.com> wrote:
>I have stumbled across the word "outages" in some network papers but they
>don't seem to clarify its meaning. What does "outages" stand for in a
>network context?

An "outage" can be pretty much any loss of connectivity, for any reason.

"outage" is also commonly used in the context of electricity supply,
so don't be surprised to read that an electrical outage caused a network
outage (which would imply that there were no redundant power facilities,
or that the redundant power facilities did not work, or that the
redundant power facilities did not activate in time to save the
ongoing communications, or that the power problem ended up causing
network equipment problems.)

At home, I used to get network outages when the vacuum cleaner was
turned on in the winter -- the circuit breaker would pop because
of circuit overload. So there doesn't have to be anything "magic"
about network outages: they can be for all kinds of stupid reasons,
but also can be the result of very complex issues and improbable
chains of circumstances.

Johs32 <dfgdg@dsf.com> wrote:
> I have stumbled across the word "outages" in some network papers but
> they don't seem to clarify its meaning. What does "outages" stand
> for in a network context?

"You can't get there from here."

rick jones
--
Wisdom Teeth are impacted, people are affected by the effects of events.
these opinions are mine, all mine; HP might not want them anyway...
feel free to post, OR email to rick.jones2 in hp.com but NOT BOTH...

Johs32 wrote:
> I have stumbled across the word "outages" in some network papers but they
> don't seem to clarify its meaning. What does "outages" stand for in a
> network context?

any network failure for any reason .

often the cause of the outage is a failure in some other area, power,
cable cut, building or cable duct flooded.

An outage might not actually impact network users if there are
sufficient paths available to reroute connections.