What does Mean Time Between Failures (MTBF) measure?

Mean Time Between Failures (MTBF) is a key metric used to measure the reliability of a system. It specifically indicates the average length of time that a system operates successfully without encountering a failure. Essentially, MTBF provides insights into how long you can expect a system to run instably before an issue arises that requires attention or repair. A higher MTBF signifies a more reliable system, as it suggests that the time between failures is longer on average.

In contrast, while system cleanup time, scheduled maintenance, and time taken for upgrades are relevant concepts in managing and maintaining systems, they do not pertain to the operational reliability and performance as represented by MTBF. The focus of MTBF is solely on the period during which the system is functional without failure, making it an essential measure in reliability engineering and systems management.