mean time between failures


mean time between failures

[′mēn ′tīm bi‚twēn ′fāl·yərz] (computer science) A measure of the reliability of a computer system, equal to average operating time of equipment between failures, as calculated on a statistical basis from the known failure rates of various components of the system. Abbreviated MTBF.

mean time between failures (MTBF)

A statistical measure of the average length of time between the successive failures of equipment or a system. For the specified time interval, the total operating time of the population of material divided by the total number of failures within the same population.

Mean Time Between Failures

(specification)(MTBF, or "Mean Time Between Faults") Theaverage time (usually expressed in hours) that a componentworks without failure. It is calculated by dividing the totalnumber of failures into the total number of operating hoursobserved. The term can also mean the length of time a usermay reasonably expect a device or system to work before anincapacitating fault occurs.

See also Mean Time To Recovery.