The \(M/G/1\) retrial queue with the server subject to starting failures (Q1324099)

An M/G/1 queueing system is examined, with the following features: (a) arriving customers who fail to obtain service immediately make subsequent attempts at a known rate, (b) the server may fail at the outset of service with given probability (which may be different for returning customers), (c) after failure the server is down for a period with general length distribution. A necessary and sufficient condition is determined for the system to be stable. Generating function formulae are then obtained for the joint equilibrium distribution of the number of customers in the system (including returners) and the server state (idle, busy, down). Finally, a stochastic decomposition law, analogous to that for general M/G/1 vacation queues given by \textit{S. W. Fuhrmann} and \textit{R. B. Cooper} [Oper. Res. 33, 1117-1129 (1985; Zbl 0585.90033)], is shown to apply, and various special cases are considered.