Risks of Networked Systems
Interesting research:
Helbing’s publication illustrates how cascade effects and complex dynamics amplify the vulnerability of networked systems. For example, just a few long-distance connections can largely decrease our ability to mitigate the threats posed by global pandemics. Initially beneficial trends, such as globalization, increasing network densities, higher complexity, and an acceleration of institutional decision processes may ultimately push human-made or human-influenced systems towards systemic instability, Helbing finds. Systemic instability refers to a system, which will get out of control sooner or later, even if everybody involved is well skilled, highly motivated and behaving properly. Crowd disasters are shocking examples illustrating that many deaths may occur even when everybody tries hard not to hurt anyone.
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Steve Powell • May 2, 2013 3:08 PM
Greetings. I just wanted to share an example of an automated system that us Tier1 service providers have played with that in certain situations can go instable. There is an automated way to subscribe bandwidth on networks using MPLS and RSVP. Never mind what MPLS and RSVP is. Take it for granted that dynamic subscription exists.
If you are not smart with your variables and get too aggresive the entire dynamic subscription system becomes unstable and pathologies are introduced. Sometimes it can be a cycle where traffic is dynamically moved never ending in a steady state. Worse case is an entire collapse.
The solution is to introduce weighting functions to delay the feedback loop and install limits to how much change can occur. But without them, KABOOM!!!!